The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-06
LEAGU EXISTENCE SAID IlNPERILED'
 BY ITALIAN STAND
Continued From Page one.) )

dressing the council of the league today at It's dramatic session. As the gcod-natured appearing former premier read his fateful message the crowded council chamber thought to hear in inEancy no the voice of Sa- landra but that of his chief and leader who has suddenly loomed up on the stage of Europe. No state would wish to belong to the league, read Signor Salandra, if membership meant renunciation of the right to defend it's national dignity. Italy had not menaced world peace and there was not sufficient reason for the application of the articles of the covenant cited by Greece which were founded on the supposition that dan ger of war existed.
 League Action Out Of Place. Until the ambassadorial body pro- nounced judgement, he contended. any action by the league was out of place, because of the leagues evident incompetency.
 The seizure of the Island, the Greeks claim, came too late after the cause from which 1t sprang, and they denounced 1t as dangerous aggres- sion," said Signor Salandra. This Is a maneuver which we must resolutely resist. We are confronted with a bold attempt to transpose the terms Of the question.
 An attempt is being made to ex- cite public opinion against Italy who, profoundly touched in her honor and prestige. by the assassination of her soldiers, finds herself accused of vio- lence and an abuse of force. It IS necessary to bring the question back to the domain of truth and the reality of facts as they result from the events which have taken place.
 Italy energetically has refused to accept the position which 1t is de- sired to force upon her of an accused party. Italy has been attacked Dy an attack of barbarous violence. It Is she that has the right to bring an &C., cusation and require punishment for the crime"
 Signor Salandra declared that it is evident that the council of ambassa- dors which he characterized as a liv- | ing organ of the Pairs peace confer ence and all that has to do with the execution of treaties, has before 1t all the right of supervision and conse- uuently the right to punish any viola tions of its orders and any opposition to the execution of it's mandates.
 Would Exceed Power.
 If the league" went on the Italian spok 'in shutting its eyes to the relation of the cause and effect of this crime, which should be chas- tised with the occupation of Corfu as
  quest to judge the effect separately from the cause which has been sub mitted to the judgment of the coun- ] cil of ambassadors without await l ing the ambassadors decision, then the league doubtless has exceeded her l power"
 Signor Salandra held that until tne ambassadors had given tn lr judge ment on the fundamental points, all | deliberations and all action by the l league would be out of place, because it would be incompetent. Surely Greece has seen tns lnsufficiency of any Grecian argument that because she has not represented on the coun- | cil of ambassadors she could not be subjected to it's judgement, for, he said, many states had accepted the decisions of the ambassadors without representation.
 "The league only has the right to intervene in questions relating to execution of treaties if all interested | parties ask for such intervention" i he declared. "It always has been | recognized hitherto that the league | has no competence as regards these 1 treaties themselves, except, under | special provisions or subject to the agreement of the parties.
 Tt was not for this reason that the council of ambassadors was in- stituted, and it is for this reason that Greece has endeavored to isolate the fact, which was incidental to the execution of the treaty, and of their sanctions. in order to escape the con- l sequences.
 ''The Greek contention is that the occupation of Corfu was a hostile act which may lead to a rupture dan gerous for the peace of the world. Italy, however, has solemniy de- clared that this occupation had no ' -l... AA1 Iak INn merely designed to assure Greece's carrying out her obligations arising out of the responsibility for the ter rible crime.
 No Danger Of War.
 There is no danger of war. There isn't even a suspension of diplomatic relations. Where can sufficient 1 grounds be found for the application of articles 12 and 15 of the covenant, which are founded on the supposi- tion of the danger of war?
 "The peace of the world is not | troubled or threatened by the act of guarantys accomplished by Italy. It would be more likely to threaten if responsible states were able to as- sume that there was a means of es- caping the consequences of riieir own misdeeds by complaining of sanc- tions and endeavoring to insure thas cause which rendered these sanctions necessary should be forgotten.
 Tt is for these reasons. briefly stated, and if necessary to De ca- veloped from the point of view of each fact and of right, that the Ital- ian government irrevocably ex- presses the opinion that the council of the League of Nations should not proceed to take action on the request of Greece
 M. Politis remarked that the Greek government lepudiated energetically any allegation that it was morally or materially responsible for the odious crime committed on its territory. Greece, he declared. did not wish to evade the prerogatives of the coun- l ell of ambassadors, but, on the con- trary, had asked that council to pur- sure an investigation. Italy, how ever. in bombarding Corfu. had ere ated situation which Justified Greece in appealing to the league. l M. Politis Insisted that in his sug- gestion of yesterday that the TsGssue council appoint a neutral commis- sion to inquire into the crime. Not only Greece. but Italy. was bound un- der the circumstances to refer the dispute to the League of Nations, i both in letter and in spir> The cove nant of the league demanded it. If the council of the league accepted the Italian point of view, then, said | Politis,, 1t was tantamount to ruin l of tho pact of the league.
 | Lord Robert Cecirs quietly voiced warning that If the treaty of Yer sailles, of which the covenant of the l league iss an intergral part, was to be disregarded the reorganization of Europe was endangered has caused a profound impression and has served to emphasize the gravity or the political crisis in which Europe is plunged. The council chamber was crowded with visitors. including | American, and Lord Re 5ert's warning