Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-25
Council Sees Upsetting if
Mandate Question if
Claims Are Admitted
REPLY TO AMERICA
To Be Drafted by A. j. Balf0ur-Fear
u. S. Swinging ito Germany
Friendly Reply Difficult

! Paris, Feb. % Members of the
/ League of Nations CoIncil feel that
they dare not admit the sweeping
legal claims made by President Will
son in his note protesting against
the mandate decisions of the Com-
iii without undermining the whole
| question Of mandates over the for
mcr German colonies.
It appears to be definitely estab-
liShed that the Council will uphold
Japan against the Uaited States.
Arthur J. Balfour, OF Great Brit
ain, has assumed the responsibility
Ter drafting the Leagues answer to
he Presidents note, but it is not
yet certain whether MS communlca-
ton will be statement of warm
| fricndlincss for America or a simple
stiff statement Of the Councils po-
sit;an on the Glestion. The League
council intends to invite the United
States to discuss with it the question
Of the disposition Of the Island of
; Yap, Japan's n:andate for which the
President warned America could not
| recognize.
Germany already is protesting
that her colonies have been a!ocated
Illegally, but short work can be made
Of German contentious SO. long as
he Allies are united. The last thing
hat the Allies would like to see
would be the swing of american
opinion toward Germany's point of
view as the result Of the Councils
refusal to admit Americas claims
o the Island cf zap.
Both Great Britain and France
realize that the extent of Germany's
| opposition 20 the reparations account
in London next week depends upon
he amount OF sympathy which Ger
many can arCuse in the United
States Yet America's claims are so
| sweeping as to arouse concern in all
The Allied governments.
The League Council would reply to
he President mcdiate)y if the
reply concerned the League of Ma
tons executive alone, but it IS now
Improbable that anything will be
lone before the Supreme Council has
given the American attitude, as set
forth in President Wilson'S note, the
| most serious consideration.
Upon the attitude which the Allied
Premicrs direct the League to adopt
toward America in this matter de-
bends the most important points of
The worlds high politics. 1t is antic-
patcd in League circles that regard
ess Of the coarse which the Allied
governments suggest. the League
Council must invite the Washington
Government to send representative
70 Join in round table discussion
Of the question
In Lca"ue circles it is considered
that The severe tone Of the American
| aotc makes It difficult for the League
| or the Allies to send friendly reply.
Some say if the United States had
| Joined the League of Nations every
thing would be- satisfactory, but as
rhc Washington Government has
| adopted an attitude Of dsintercStcd-
| ness in world affairs it cannot object
| 20 the decisions arrived at by the
League.
Great Britain wants the Council
TO uphold the terms of the mandate
which established monopoly Of
'Mcsopotanlian oil resources. Japan
wants the Council to keep her in pcs
session of the Island Of Yap. France
wants to helr her ally Polaad OBJ
tain possession # the disputed city
| Ct wilma n order to further her pol
icy nf using the Poles to separate the
Bolsheviki completely from the Ger
mans.
| League enthusiasts who deplore
the incident brought about by Pres
ednt Wilson'S note cypress the hope
that it will result IN the realization
by America that she must either
enter the Leagre OF Nations or ex-
/ pect cool reception when she de-
sircs the promotion Of some of her
vital interests by the action Of the
worlds governments.