Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-09
SOUTH AMERICANS
MAY BOLT LEAGUE
Central Americans Also Restive
Because United States
Stands Aloof
WOULD JOIN ANY NEW BODY
BY the Associated Press

UeneVA, sept. t.--ShOulu lresiuenJ
Harding see fit to create a new society
Of nations, Colombia will be among the
first to apply for membership.
A. F. Restrepo, chief Of the Colom-
binn delegation to the League Of
Nations assembly, made this declaration
today in discussing a report that Co.
lombia, among other South American
States, might withdraw from the
league because of its rejection Of the
Argentine amendment to the covenant
Of the League, providing that all SOW
ereign States should be members Of the
League unless by their own volition they
abstained from membership.
Senior Restrepo said Colombia did
not regard the rejection Of the amend
ment as sufficient reason to leave the
League. He added that he believed all
the other South and Central American
States would follow Colombia into the
II this could be construed as meaning
these Stntes would withdraw from the
present League in such event, Senor
Restrcpo said:
1--WE would have to wait and see.
but, nevertheless, 1t Is n question II
public opinion IL South America would
support two Leagues.
Thought United States Would Join
"The South American countries are
finding that virtually all questions be-
fore the League are purely European
in interest,"" continued Senior Restrepo.
NEARLY all our interests, commercially
and politically, lie in the other conti-
nent and in a sense are common to those
of the United States.
Colombia, for example, came into
the League only because we thought the
United 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 pres,
ent League. This causes us to think
ested in the outcome of the forthcoming
Washington conference"
Doubt Likelihood OF Withdrawal
Augustin Edwards. head of the
Chilean delegation to the League of Ma
tions Assembly, and Carlos Aramayo,
chief Of the Bolivian delegates, said
this afternoon they regarded reports to
the effect that Chile and Bolivia might
withdraw from the Assembly because of
the rejection of the Argentine amend
ment as without foundation. Neither
of them had received instructions from
his Government up to noon today.
Inquiry among the other South
American delegations failed to reveal
any country contemplating withdrawal
because of the fate Of the Argentine
program, but attention was called to
the fact that such decision naturally
would be taken by the home Govern
ments.
Henri la Fontaine, a Belgian dele
gate, was the first to speak this morn
ing. A. J. Balfour. of Great Britain :;
X. V. Wellington Koo. of China, and
Niscount Ishii. of Japan, were among
those who expected to take the floor
during the day.
Nansen Pleads for Russia
DR.. Fridtjof Manson. OF Norway,
pleaded for publicity and economy in
the League. lie declared it was i'm
possible to restore normal economic
conditions in the world until Russia
was put on its feet again.
DR.. Nansen appealed to the world
through the assembly for $50 0,000, 900.
which, he said, was required to buy
1000 900 tons of wheat to save Rus
sia from starvation. lie declared Eu
rCp1 was menaccd with the greatest
GisaStC in its history.
He introduced a resolution that the
Assembly refer the question of relief in
Russia to committee, at the same time
appealing to the various Governments
for immediate aid and deferring the
question of the guarantees Russia can
offer for the sums loaned.
Prince Dowlch, of Persia, who spoke
next. dwclt on the absence of results
and the abundance of talk about dis
armament. He said all eyes, in con-
sequence. were turned toward Washing
ton. The Persian delegate referred to
the American State Department notes
on mandates and declared it was highly
desirable that satisfaction be given the
just claims Of the United States on that
question.
President Van Karncbcek announced
that the election of judges for the per-
mancnt International Court of Justice
would be held Wednesday next.