Evening star., 1921-09-09
COLOMBIA WOULD
.JO|NSOUTHAMER|CA
bolt FROM LEAGUE
Favors New Society of Ma
tions Sponsored by the
United States.
PRESENT COMBINE HELD
EUROPEAN IN INTEREST
irowing Indications Of Split De-
MED by Chilean and Bolivian
Delegates at Geneva.
By the Associa ted Press.

Delegates at Geneva.
BY the Associat ted Press
GENEVA, September 9.-Should
PRESIDENT Harding see fit to create a
new society of nations, Colombia will
be among the first to apply for mem
bership
A. F. Restrepo, chief of the colom-
oian delegation to the League of Ma
tlons assembly, made this declaration
To-Day in discussing a report that
colombia, with other South Ameri-
can states, might withdraw from the
league because-of its rejection of the
Argentine amendment to the cove
nant OF the league, providing that all
sovereign states should be members
OF the league unless by their own
sohtion they abstained from mem
Dersnip. He said Colombia did not
ment as sufficient reason to leave the
league.
Sees Others Following,
Senior Restrepo added that he be-
lieved all the other South and Central
American states would follow Colom-
bia into the new society, should it be
formed. Asked If this could be con-
strued as meaning these states would
withdraw from the present league in
such event. Senior Restrepo said:
we would have to wait and see.
out, nevertheless, 1t is a question Of
PUBIC opinion II South America
would support two leagues"
r Ine south American countries are
nnding that virtually all questions be-
fore the league are purely European
IN interest" continued Restrepo,
Nearly all our interests. commercial
~ and politically. lie in the other con-
unent and in a sense are common to
those OF the United States. Colombia,
for example, came into the league
states would be a member, and would,
IN a sense. be the leader and protector
OF all the states of North and South
america. We see now that we were
badly mistaken and that the United
states probably never will join the
think. and naturally we all are deeply
interested IN the outcome of the
forthcoming Warrington conference"
Propeeel withdrayssl spsaaeA. -
AuguatIn Edwards. ~ ssef the
Chnsans anssAelesation. to -tifs sft1eue Of
nations assembly. and UAf3n8 Ara
mayo. chief OF the Bolivian delegates,
said this afternoon they regarded re-
ports to the effect that Chile and Bo-
livia might withdraw from the assem-
Oily because OF the rejection of the Ar
gentine amendment as without foun-
dation. Neither of them had received
instructions from his government up
to noon today
Inquiry among the other South
American delegations failed to reveal
-drawal because Of the fate Of the Ar
gentine program. but attention was
called to the fact that such a decision
naturally would be taken by the home
governments and the delegates to the
league probably would not know of it
until Instructions to withdraw arriv-
ed in Genoa.
Senior Edwards expressed confidence
that revision of the treaty of 1904
between Chile and Bolivia never
would come to vote of the assembly.
He said he expected the problem would
be disposed of in day or two. but re-
fused to indicate what action he
thought the assembly would take.
Held No League Problem.
Treaties must be respected" said
Senior Edwards, "and tie treaty be-
tween Bolivia and Chile is a matter
for the two countries alone. not for
the league"
Discussion Of the work done by the
ing the past year was continued at
today's session of the assembly of the
league. Henri La .Fontaine, a Bel
gian delegate, was the first to speak
this morning. and A. J. Balfour of
Great Britain, K. V. Wellington Koo
of China and viscount Ishii of japan
were among those who expected to
take the floor during the day. M. La
Fontaine dwelt especially upon the
activities of the council regarding re-
lief work and social problems.
Mandates Discussed
Yesterdays debate included a dis
cussion of the United States note
relative to mandates, disarmament
and trade conditions. The United
Robert Cecil for remaining aloof dur
ing the period Of world reconstruc-
tion, while the council Of the league
was accused of 'partiality and ex-
travagance" by Hjalmar Branting of
sw3dsn.
a vivid picture Of the misery Of the
world, "armed to the teeth" He said
he found no word of hope in the re-
port of the. council. M. La Fontaine
forecast wars by which entire popu-
unless the league Of nations got into
effective action.
Publicity Urged.
. DIR. Fridtjof Nansen Of Norway
pleaded for publicity and economy in
the league. He declared it was impos-
sible to restore normal economic 'condi-
tions in the world until Russia was put
on it's feet again.
DR.. Nansen appealed to the world
through the assembly for f30. 1000, 900,
which he said was required to bu;
100000 tons Of wheat to save Russia
from starvation He declared EiIrone
was menaeed with the greatest disas-
ter in its history. .
He introduced a resolution that the
assembly refer the question of relief
in Russia to a committee, at the same
time appealing to the various govern
ments for immediate aid and deferring
Continued on Page Q. Column 81