The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-11
BODY DISCUSSES
J.. 8. AND LEAGUE
Follows Decision To Invite
Washington's ColIabora-
ton In Commission

PARIS, Dec. .1O.-(The Associated
Press 1.-The United States and it's re-
lation to the League of Nations &C
cussion at today's public session here
of the league council.
Lord Robert Cecil of Great Britain
NJ. Hanotaux of France and HAL
mar Branting of Sweden, all partici-
pated in the discussion, which arose
over the decision to invite the Wash
ington governments collaboration in a
league commission for the prepare
ton of a convention replacing the
St German treaty for the control
of international traffic in arms.
The United States as well as some
other countries, refuse to adhere to
the St. German treaty and the prob
manner of ubstituting the treaty
which will assure the support of the
leading powers, especially America
Lord Robert was not satisfied with
the provisional text of the invitation
to be dispatched to Washington. Keep
ing in mind the aversion of the United
Estates to any league activities of a
political nature, he urged that care be
taken to emphasize that the arms
traffic discussions would be absolute
ly nonpolitical.
He remarked how precious was the
American participation in the league
discussions of problems like the opium
and white slave traffics, and pleaded
for sturdy maintenance of such 4
league policy as would insure con
tinued American cooperation in great
world questions outside the domain OF
politics.
NJ Hanotaux and the others agreed
with Lord Roberts arguments, and
another opportunity will be given tho
United States to come forward with
suggestions for regulating the traffic
in arms which the league deems vital
In connection with the general move
ment for armament reduction. This
question is linked with the problem
of controlling the private manufacture
of arms and munitions, and attempts
will be made to draw up a conven-
ton on the subject.
The draft treaty of mutual assist
ance approved at the last assembly,
which provides for the eventual re-
duction of land ornaments, will be
sent to all countries not members OF
the league, to obtain their views on
the same as result of further council
action, in order that the next as
sembly may have before it the opin-
ions of all the worlds states on the
vast project of cutting down arma-
ments.
BY an additional resolution the
leagues ornaments commission was
asked to pursue its investigation of
the effects of chemical and bateri-
illogical discoveries on possible fu
ture wars.
Mexico. Ecuador and Turkey will be
invited to adhere to the customs SIM
plification convention recently elbo-
rated al Geneva in the presence of the
American observers and through the
Intervention of Lord Robert, Russia
will also be given chance to ratify.
Lord Robert explained that Russia
had been permitted to sign the Turk
ish straits convention negotiated at
Lausanne and there was no reason
why she should be shut out of the
cutoms treaty when all the Other
countries had opportunity to partici-
pate.
The leagues program to bring
about the economic restoration Of
Europe and Asia was given a distinct
boost when the council appointed
subcommission to study and report
upon the league plans for the
financial reconstruction of Hungary
which the leading French newspapers
regard as of supreme Importance to
the economic recovery of the con-
tinent.
League leaders tonight said that
they were not fearful that the posi-
BILE fall of the Austrian cabinet would
endanger the leagues plan for the
financial reconstruction of that coun-
try, because the treaties of reorgan-
ization distinctly stipulate that the
clauses will be recognized by all
Austrian governments and that this
provision was even supported by the
socialists.
DR.. Zimmerman. the leagues high
commissioner in Vienna, who is due in
Paris on Wednesday, recently inaugu-
rated reductions In the salaries of the
state employees and 1t is thought here
the threatened strike and limited coli
laps of the cabinet may force him to
postpone the salary cuts.