New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-06-24
British Foreign Secretary,
in Speech to Premiers,
Blames Faulty Treaty
for Many World Ills
Urges America to i
Stand by Allies
Ready for Nations Coun-
Gil to Defer Mandate Is
sue and Seek Our View

LONDON, June % (By The Asso-
ciated Press An unexpected at
tack on the covenant of the League
Of Nations was made in the House
of Lords tonight by Lord Curzon,
Secretary of State for Foreign Af-
fairs. He declared that many exist
ing international difficulties were
due to the Allies having taken the
wrong turning in the making Of
peace, and he uttered a strong ap-
peal for the utmost American CO.
operation with the Allies.
The Foreign Seeretary's speech
was made in the course of general
discussion on mandates, in which he
admitted that Parliament was en-
titled to more information, but he
said this was a subject involved in
obscurity. The language of the
covenant was such that not even a
trained lawyer knew what it meant.
Too Eager to Get League
Lord Curzon was inclined to think
there was mistake in policy, when
the Allies met in Paris, in their ex-
treme desire to get the League Of Ma
tions. on the international statute
book. They rushed almost with pre-
cipitation, he said, to discuss questions
which it now is seen would better
have been solved by being post
III, LolJ H.
opinion that if, instead of taking up
the better regulation of the world.
they had at the close of the war en-
deavored to secure the peace of the
world as it then was, "we should have
been much further advanced in the
conditions of peace than we now are"
Lord Curzon entered into a long ex-
planation of the British view, showing
that there had been no discourtesy on
the part of the British government.
but circumstances beyond its control
had prevented the submission of man
dates to the Washington government
in the manner the latter required.
Glad Over U. s. Interest
Regarding the present position, he
believed there would be further post
ponement Of the discussion on mandates
Expressing the governments extreme
pleasure over the renewed American
interest in European affairs, the For
eign Secretary said the more coopera-
tion in the manner best suited to
Americas own feeling was granted the
better it would be for the worlds
peace.
Lord Curzon declared there was force
and reason in President Harding's
view that America was entitled to be
consulted before the mandates could
be entirely settled, and he believed
that the league was likely to reply
that, holding that view themselves,
they would decide to postpone con-
sideration of the mandates and trust
that the other governments concerned
would enter into communication with
the American government in the in
terval before the meeting Of the As
sembly in September.
"We shall all agree" he said, Chat
there must be a period to this uncer-
tainty, and I, for my part, if the sug-
gested invitation reaches me from the
league, shall be quite prepared to act
upon it,"
Spoke Frankly to Premiers
The imperial conference did not
hold a formal session to-day, having
adjourned after Lord Curzon's speech
yesterday until Friday. At that time
the Japanese alliance, which is the
first big subject to be discussed. is not
likely to come up, as it is planned to
discuss it early next week.
Lord Curzon's speech yesterday was
comprehensive but highly confidential
review of the principles which have
guided British foreign policy since tho
end of the war. Owing to the fact
that number of questions of delicate
international significance had to be
tow nl,nl 3 e. \
that the address should not be pub
lished. All that can be said, therefore,
is that the British Minister of Foreign
Affairs took the conference completely
into his confidence, laying all the cards
upon the table, and at the same time
inviting the delegates to interrogats
him on each and every point.
Curzon Cross-Examined
This invitation, it is understood. was
freely acted upon, Premier Meighen and
the other Premiers subjecting Lord
Curzon to what practically amounted to
a cross-examination. The Foreign Secs
retary, it is known, did not touch upon
the Japanese alliance except in a gem
eral way, and neither advocated that i'd
be denounced nor renewed, He dwels
at great length, however, on thd
diplomatic conversation which he re.
Gently held in Paris with Premier BRAND
of France, concerning the British at.
titude in Russia and the general lines
OF British policy, both in Europe and
in the Pacific.
SO far as could be ascertained the
statement was regarded as satisfaetorv
by the Premiers of the dominions. Ru,
1T is pointed out that mere explana.
tion of British foreign policy to the
dominions is far from meaning that
they have q voice or influence in the
direction of execution Of that policy.
IA