The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-23
RESPECT LEAGU AND SETTLE RUHR, ME ESSAGE ID WORLD.
No Formal Resolutions, Just Clearly Will Of Delegates,
 Is Indication

GENEVA, Sept 22.-(By Associated Press )-Respect the league covenant and settle the reparation problem quickly-these are the two messages of the moment which go out to all governments and peoples from the League of Nations. They are con tained in no formal resolutions and backed by no formal vote taking, but they emerge clearly as the will of the majority of the world dele gates assembled in Geneva, If plaudits have any meaning and en- thusiastic ovations, any significance.
 This expression of what the pup lie opinion demands found its voice particularly today when several delegates, representing India, South Africa and Sweden, insisted upon the gravity of world conditions and de- manded that the governments obey the new order of things as repre- sented by the league.
 Referring to Italy's repudiation of the league authority In the Greek affair, the Maharajah of Navangar declared his conviction that the league Is perfestly competent to in- sist on peaceful settlement of dis putes arising between members, and he issued the warning that If any one member fails to live up to the principles of the covenant, the league falls to be its true self and risks ruin.
 Citadel of Small Nations.
 Under the old order, and before this family of nations came into being" said the Indian prince, the right of reprelsal no doubt held good, but under the new order which all have accepted, we hope this Is all changed. The League of Nations Is the citadel of the new age, and especially the citadel and refuge of the small nations.
 India accepts the covenant with out reservation. Unless the strong nations set an example of for bearance, unless they show willing ness to sacrifice their pride If power-then the League of Nations will be sham, the light on the horizon will decide and the former accusing darkness will return"
 The speaker praised the for bearance of the council in the Italian case, and voiced conviction that all the powers would bow to the interpretation of the covenant to be handed down by a selected group of eminent jurists or by the permanent court of international justice. The Maharajah was loudly applauded as he took his seat, and received congratulations from many of the other delegates.
 South Africa Appeals.
 It was South Africa, another of the countries in the British empire | U- CQ I 1aC for quick solution of the repara- | tton problem. Professor George Murray was the skopesman, and he delivered what was hailed as the most remarkable discourse given be- fore the present assembly. He need ed no apologies, he said, for speak Ing on separations before the as- semhly, because the league was the forum for expression of world opinion on any great question. He believed hls prime minister would support every word he was going to sav and that the vast majority of the thinking people of the world were behind him.
 He then launched into an eloquent appeal, which he emphasized had been approved by the international Federation of Trades Unions, with a membership of 10000, 900 workmen, that the interested powers, especially Great Britain and France. either set tle the reparation question which Folsons the air of Europe" or lay it before the league for settlement.
 Professor Murray remarked that 1t was no longer necessary to talk of the fact that France and Belgium must have ample reparation and se- curlty for the future. He did not wish to blame anyone, for men of lofty aims were directing the affairs of England and France, but he be- lieved the league could say to both governments
 World Filled With Dread.
 You have failed after four years to settle this hideous problem, while the world Is filled with dread for the | future"
 Tn these four years" he continued, "the league has grappled with the | great scourges that devastated man. kind, has repatriated hundreds Of thousands of war prisoners, stopped epidemics, saved refugees fed famine | stricken mulitudes, and checked the
 traffic in white slaves. But to what | progress is this if this single un- solved problem hangs over us, lead ing Europe toward calamity and de- | spair?' Applause followed this pero- | ration.
 T know" he went on, that in his
 tory there has been no surer mode
 of sowing the seeds of war than through the occupation of the terri
 tory of any nation by foreign | power"
 The speaker said that all hated l German imperialism and the ruin 1t | had wrought, but if Germany went the way of Russia, if a German
 famine was followed by famine in England and other nations, and the l great war proved but a prelude to another and ghastlier war, he hardly knew what could save the credit of
 the League of Nations or the gov ernments composing 1t before the bar of history and the judgment of | God. He closed his address by again exhorting the great powers to solve the problem swiftly or hand 1t over to the league.
 Washington and Napoleon are said to have known thousands of men in