New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
league Doubts
Persian Claims
10 Head Isla1l1s
Prince Dowleb's Speech at
Conference Fails TO Inn
press Delegates as Trsie
Voice of sIslasnic World
Right to Speak Probed
Words Were offered as
True Representation of
the $50. 900, 600 Moslens

WV Moslefns OF the East appointed a
duly authorized representative in the
League Of Nations and made demands
OF the League Council and Assembly :?
Many league members have been ask
ing themselves this striking question
following the demand of His Highness
Prince Arf-Ed-Dowleh, the chief dele.
| gate IN the third Assembly, that com
paratieely insignificant little Persia be
given seat on the League Council.
Prince Dowleh, who wears frocl
coat and picturesque Astrakhan hat
OF fez design, which he never removes.
| walked in a dignified manner 30 the
tribunal of the Assembly and read a
speech in the name Of all the $50 o.o0o,-
900 Moslams demanding that Persia be
80 honored.
The demand was taken under CON
slderatlon while there was consider
able scouting going on by the league
secretariat and the representatives Of
the great Moslem ruling nations to as
certain whether the prince was in
voking the name of his sectarian con
freres in such huge numbers with or
| without authority.
Logically Turkey would be the ma
tion within the League to speak for
the Mussulmsn brothers of the East.
Since Turkey is not a member Of the
League it is yet mystery whether the
Islam mandate has heen intrusted to
/ Persia.
Words of ""Islamic Worldn
| Dowleh's demand on the Assembly
was not all. In the name Of the ''whole
lslamic world" he told the committee
dealing with amendments to the COW
enant that the Canadian proposal to
strike Article X from the League con-
stitution would, if adopted, deal q
fatal blow to athe prestige Of the
League throughout the East. The tone
of the Persian delegates communities
ticn is menacing, authoritative and
dnal. 1t has created such interest
| among many members that it may here
be given as translated from the French:
Last year [ had the honor TO ex-
plain to you the Oriental peiut Of
view as regards the League of Nations
and what the East looks for from this
great institution for peace. / aiss
pointed out to you that OF the $780,
100000 Mussulmans and the numerous
Mahometan states Persia was hitherto
the only one represented in this august
assembly.
"You will understand that it is quite
natural that we should take into con-
sideration not only the point Of view
of our government, but that Of the
whole Islamic world.
The amendment proposed by the
honorable delegation OF Canada would
deal a fatal blow to the prestige Of the
league throughout the East. The one
aope that We build on the League of
| Nations is founded precisely on this
! Article X OF the covenant If you de-
Stroy this foundation, how much Of the
value Of the league will remain hence
! forth in the eyes of our people?
'Jn the eyes Of it: founders the. main
! purpose of the League Of Nations was
that it should be league that would
insure peace to its members and would
protect them against the recurrence of
similar calamity.
"Unless / am mistaken, the states
men who drew up the clauses OF our
covenant did not intend to create a
lhiianthropic or hygienic league whose
task should be, primarily, to deal with
cpidemics and dangerous drugs, since
here We're everywhere Red Gross so
cieties which had these philanthropic
questions at heart. may be mistaken
as to the point Of view Of Europe and
America, but you must allow me to in
aist on that of the East, which we
know we'll | myself have had occa-
sion to discuss it fully with repre-
aentatives Of all classes OF the popula-
lion in Persia, India, Arabia and Egypt
Anti-Aggression Ciause
"The universal belief in the East
was that the League Of Nations con-
stitutcd a great political organisation
which should constitute guaranty
against war. This interpretation was
based on the clauses Of Article X Of
the covenant, and it was solely with
this idea that we hastened to join the
league. In asking for and obtaining
ratification by Parliament our govern
ment still based itself on Article K
Under these circumstances, how could
we agree to your canceling and weak
ening this article, which says:
'''The members Of the league under
take to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence Of all members OF the
league. In case of any such aggres
sion, or in case of any threat or dan
ger of such aggression, the council
shall advise upon the means by which |
this obligation shall be fulfilled
1--WE have received formal instruc-
tions from our government to state
that Persia could not accept amend !
ments to Article X in any event, and
that it considers these attempts very