The New York herald., 1922-07-23

LEAGUE CONFIRMS
EASTERN MANDATES
France and Italy to Agree on
Minor Points in Syria and
Palestine.
MESOPOTAMIA REMAINS
Delegates Say Tasks Left
From Versailles Have Been
Executed.
MESOPOTAMIA REMAINS


New York Herald Bureau.
London. July &c.
The Council OF the League of Nations
to-day confirmed the drafts of the
Syrian and Palestine mandates and
they will come into force automatically
as soon as an agreement is reached
between the French and Italian Gov
ernments on certain minor points which
are now under discussion at Paris.
This agreement Is expected early next
week. 1t concerns a desire by Italy
for assurance that she will get eco
nomic privileges similar to those which
America requested In Palestine from
Great Britain. NJ. Viviani experienced
no difficulty in encouraging the coun-
ell to approve both drafts.
With the exception of Mesopotamia.
the council has definitely settled the
mandate problem and after private ses-
sions this morning and afternoon the
delegates separated in a happy frame
of mind. Regarding real achievements
they declare that the League or Nations
has now cleared UP the most important
work placed before 1t by the Versailles
treaty One official told THE NEW
YORK HERALD correspondent that he
felt the settlement of dhe mandate
IL
the existence of the League and vim
dicated it In the eyes of the world.
Says Boards Are Cleared.
I'VE have now cleared the boards Of.
everything that came to us from the
various treaties" this man said. "Of
course there are still many lesser tasks
like the opium traffic, the mistreat-
ment of women and children, and the
Saar Valley and Silesia troubles. but
we are getting on with them and maxi
ing progress. The League of Nations
now can seriously turn its good offices
toward the general endeavor for which
It was originally formulated without
side-tracking the irritating problems
inherited from the peace settlements
The deadlock which nrose early in the
week when the Italians refused to dis
cuss the French draft of the Syrian
mandate, which arrived late. until au
thorized to do so by Rome. ended when
the Italians said that they were author
lied to approve the draft after the two
Governments had exchanged views on 1t.
There being no other objection to the
Syrian mandate the Council turned its
attention to the Palestine mandate.
which was acceptable except for Article
XIV, providing for the safe guarding OF
holy places. After a lengthy discussion
new draft was drawn UP. which will
be made public Monday. but THE NEW
YORK HERALD correspondent has been
informed that certain details will be
left for further consideration. These
regard the administration of holy places.
as the draft does not fix the size. scope
or duties of the commission of control
nor does 1t name a chairman.
Spain and Brazil are inclined to in
dorse the Vatican's wish that the COM
mission be headed by Catholic. The
French want a Frenchman. but the
British are more interested IN the actual
work of the commission. The indefinite
draft leaving these questions for further
consideration was adopted after the
Earl of Balfour had made a plea for
the acceptance Of the mandate, so that
the British could get to work there, In
view of the present urgency. Without
protest or discussion the mandate was
revised to satisfy the wishes of Amer
lea.
Papal Nuncio's Statement.
LONDON, July % ASSOCIATED Press).-
Monsignor Cerretti. papai nunco at
Paris, who came to London Thursday
to present the views of the Vatican to
tie council of the League of Nations
on the Palestine mandate, particularly
the custody of the holy places, through
some misadventure was not heard by
the council. He made the following
statemsn. to the Associated Press to-
day:
II anticipated that the council would
approve the Palestine mandate. but did
not expect that it would do so before
giving me an opportunity to express the
views OF the Vatican. l reIinquished a
holiday at vichy to come here at the
telegraphed request of the Holy See
and naturally feel a sense of disap-
pointment at the councils failure to
hear me before confirming the man.
date.
"It is obvious that the revision Of
article fourteen confirming the compost
tion and authority of the commission for
the custody Of the holy places was
mere form and that Great Britain will
have the final voice in deciding the
personnel and functions of the commits
sion.
The Vatican considers the holy places
international in character and conse-
quently the commission should be inter-
national. 1t should embrace the repre-
sentatives of all countries which have
special interests in the sacred areas.
We do not want France or any one
country to dictate in these cases.
THE custody Of these places has been
under an italian. Frenchman and
Spaniard and recently an Englishman.
and 1t Is only just that the commission
should comprise members from these
countries"