Evening star., 1923-01-30
COUNCIL Of LEAGUE
TAKES UP |RAK ROW
Fears Turks May Balk at
Treating Under Disputes
Section of Covenant.
EQUAL FOOTING PROMISED
Members Invited to Make Sugges-
tions Regarding Proposed
Change in Article K.
EQUAL FOOTING PROMISED
By the Associated Press.

PARIS, January 30.-The dispute
between Great Britain and Turkey
over the Irak frontier. involving the
l-producing fields of Mosul. was
brought before the council sof the
league Of nations today by the Earl
OF Balfour. The council took no
action in the matter. as 1t is awaiting
an indica ton from the Turks as to
whether they will accept the leagues
Jurisdiction. =
Mosul, said Lord Balfour. was a
question for the league to consider,
because the Irak was inundated terri
tory, Great Britain acting in that ter
ritory in behalf of the league Of ma
tons go
The question, furthermore, was of
interest to the league, he said. be-
cause of the menace to peace that
was involved in the dispute. He
said he thought article XVII OF
the league covenant might give the
Turks apprehension that they would
not be admitted to an equal footing
by the council
Provides for Membexship.
Article XVII provides that in
the event Of a dispute between a
member the latter shall be invited
to accept the obligations Of member
ship in the legaue for the purpose of
such dispute, upon such conditions as
the council may deem just"
Lord Balfour said he had informa-
tion indicating the Turks feared that
under this article the council might
place them in a copdition of inferior
ity In an arbitration dispute. He as
sured the council it was the desire
Of the British government that the
Turks be invited to sit with the
council in the Mosul case. which
Great Britain desires to have the
league arbitrate, On an equal footing
with the other members.
NJ. Fiviani, for France, concurred
in Lord Balfours expressions.
Considers Article x.
The council of the league occupied
itself yesterday with one of the old
est and most familiar subjects on it's
agenda-article x Of the league Of
nations covenant-and once again
put of a decision whether or not 1t
shall be eliminated from the COW
enant until the states, members of
tho league, can send in any sugges-
tions they may have to make con-
cerning the Canadian proposal to
amend the covenant by striking out
the article or modifying it by intro
ducing an interpretative clause.
Yesterday was first meeting Of the
the league of nations gave the small
states majority in 1t, and the rep
resentatives /of some OF the big mi
nority states came to Paris for the
session with some apprehension as to
the announced aggressiveness Of the
new members on such important sub
Jects as occupation Of the Ruhr and
reparations generally.
VIII Invite suxgestions.
The council decided to ask the gov
ernments Of states belonging to the
league of nations to send in before
July l their suggestions as to the
Canadian proposal to. amend article
10 of the league covenant. One Of
the amendments would provide that,
when 1t is necessary to have recourse
to article x. account should be taken
Of the geographical situation and the
political condition Of Athe states con-
cerned. Another proposed amendment
would add to the article the follow
ing paragraph:
''The opinion given by the council
in such cases shall be regarded as of
the highest Importance and shall be
taken into consideration by all mem
bers of the league, who shall use
their utmost endeavors to conform to
the conclusions of the council. But
no members shall be under obligation
to engage in any active war without
the consent Of its parliament, legis-
ture or other. representative. body"
As soon as the council receives the
opinions OF the memberssof. the league
1t will compile and refer them to the
5uridical authorities for the prepara-
tion of a. report to the next. assembly.
The project for mutual or general
pacts or guarantees concerning con-
ditions of proportional disarmament
must await the report of the temp
orary mixed committee on armaments,
which will meet in Geneva, early in
February. according to decision Of
the council. =