The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-06-06
LEACUE'SFATE
UP .I|''. TO tt [ council IN !!
MEETING
Fundamental Question Is on
Abandonment or Revision
of League Covenant
FIRST MEETING SINCE
sd. HARDING'S REFUSAL
Question of Mandates Is Also
an Important Topic to Be
Decided This Session
BY Henry Wood

By Henry Wood.
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Geneva, June 6.---With the meet
ing of the Council of the League of
Nations here today, the fate Of the
league will in all probably be def
nitely decided.
Sunday.
The meeting will be the, first one
that has BEEN held since President
Hardings definite announcement
that the United States can never join
the league in it's present form.
1T is expected that all Of the al
lied powers have definitely decided
upon the attitude they wish to take
as regards the league and the coun-
ell will be in position to formulate
definitely the leagues future.
The fundamental question to be
decided will be whether; it will be
ecessary, advisable to abandon en-
tirely the league as now established,
or whether 1t Will be possible to
work over the covenant and the
leagues present organization in such
a manner that they will eventually
be acceptable to- the United States.
In addition to the fact that the
delegates on the council OF all the
allied nations will have definite in
structionsl on this point from their
respective governments, it is also ex-
pected that former Premier Viviani
OF France will be able to give a fairly
definite idea to the council whether
or not the present league can be
made acceptable to the United States.
Much Will unquestionabl% depend
upon his personal observations in the
United States on this point.
e. AT the same time, there Will be
simultaneously in session at Geneva
two big commissions, on both OF
which Wiviani is one Of the principal
members. These are the commits
sions for amending the covenant and
for preparing definite plans for in
ternational disarmament.
In the case Viviani reports that
the present league organization can
be worked over TO meet American
ideas and the council has definite in
structtons from the different allied
governments to work towards this
end, no time will therefore be lost.
While the amendment commission
was appointed by the Leagues as
sembly last December it was stipulat-
ed that all proposed amendments to
be passed. upon by the next assembly
in September must be submitted be-
fore March 30th, 1t has already been
decided to sidestep this restriction YIN
the event the covenant can be made
acceptable to the United States. The
above limit has therefore been made
applicable only to amendments SUBJ
mitted by members states, while any
amerMlm ents submitted on behalf OF
the United States WILL be received UP
until the very time the next assemb-
ly meets in September. ~.
1t is expected likewise that Vivi-
ami will bring some very definite
ideas as to President Harding's pol
icy for international disarmament. AS
Vfviani' himself is chairman Of this
commission, it lis expected that he
will try and shape the work OF that
commission to meet the views Of the
United States.
Aside from the fact that the COM
ing council meeting will thus decide
the future fate of the league, the
meeting will also be one Of the most
important yet held. 1t will be UP to
the council to take some decision on
the official protest of the German
government which has been made to
the league against the occupation OF
additional Rhine territory last
March.
Equally important decisions will
have to be taken by the council on
the question of the Council in Paris
lin March the United States filed q
protest against the awarding OF the
mandate for the island of zap and
against the awarding Of mandates for
Mesopotamia to England, under the
terms OF the 4Apglo-French agreement
which" would give these two coun-
tries a monopoly on the oil produce
ton Of Mesopotamia. g., ~
As a result of this protest the
council postponed action on the man
dates till the June meeting and an
yited the United States to send a
delegate to the coming council I'M
order to present the American views.
A score of other important matters
are on the program. = AS q conse-
ouence the meeting Of the council IS
expected to last at least two weeks.
AT the assembly meeting IN Sep
TENDER, the league as a whole and as
II is now constituted will be called
upon to accept or reject whatever
steps may be taken towards working
over the league to meet the wishes
of the United States. A number OF
the leading personalities OF the
league are preparing projects wndcn l
It is hoped win render the United
participation possible. One OF these
projects by, Foreign Minister Benes
Of Czecho-Slovakia provides that the
league be reorganized to carry our
certain definite, specified ends, suc1l
az the enforcement Of peace treaties,