New-York tribune., 1921-02-22
Council Plans
League Change
To Satisfy U. S,
Balfour Heads Commission
Named to Consider How
Covenant May Be Amend
ed to Bring America I'm
May Confer With Harding
Removal of Capital From
Geneva and Wilma Pro-
test Also Leading Issues
By Ralph Courtney
Special Gable to The Tribune

Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, Feb. 21,-The first act of the
Council Of the League OF Nations, which
held its opening session in the Petit
Luxembourg Palace to-day, was the de-
cision to abolish public sittings. 1t
was announced that after each sitting
the Council would issue a full report
of what had transpired.
Apart from the routine matters, three
important questions are agitating the
Council. These are:
/ The means to be employed in the eff
forts TO get America to join the league.
The question of what must be done
in the Lithuanian charge that the
league has dealt unjustly with it in
the matter of the Wilma plebiscite.
The matter of changing the capital
of the league from Geneva to Brussels
or The Hague.
Swiss Delegates To Be Heard
In regard TO- this last proposition no
definite decision will be made before
the next Assembly meeting, in Septem-
Der. The Council already is preparing
the case for transference The Swiss
delegates will be called before the
present session and asked to justify
Switzerland's refusal to allow the pas
sage OF the league army on its way
to Wilma. 1t will be contended that
such opposition to the league i'll BELTS
Switzerland, whose capital holds the
privileged position Of also being the
capital OF the league.
France is particularly angry because
of her interest in Poland. 1t was she
who made the request on behalf of the
league, and it was her Ambassador
who received the Swiss reply, which is
interpreted as snub. France and
Switzerland already are in dispute
about the economic status Of the terri
tory on the French side of the Geneva
zone.
Belgium and most of the Entente
members are also eager to change the
capital from Geneva. After the ratif-
cation of the Versailles Treaty the
Entente wrote President Wilson, sug-
costing that the first meeting of the
league be called in Brussels, but Mr..
Wilson refused. Belgium originally
had offered its Congo Museum to the
IedSue 1OI lCS caplLaI. AlChouGh the
leagues headquarters eventually may
be transferred to Brussels, the labor
organization probably will remain at
Geneva, Albert Thomas already having
taken possession Of the Hotel Ma
tional.
Changes to Satisfy America
What the league will decide to do
about Lithuania remains to be seen,
but in regard to Americas entry the
first step was the appointment of an
imposing committee on amendments
to decide what changes in the leagues
constitution would be most likely to
appeal to America. This question
dominated the afternoon discussion of
amendments. Sir Robert Borden, for
merly Premier of Canada, was S .g-
gested as chairman OF the committee,
but it was decided, for several reasons,
that Arthur J. Balfour might hope TO
deal with America more successfully,
and ne was appointed. The amendment
committee will sit to consider amend
ments proposed by the various mem
bers in preparation for the next meet
ire of the Assembly. The chairman OF
the committee may confer with Presi-
dent Harding concerning the posgi-
bility of meeting Americas wishes.