Evening star., 1923-09-20
COUNCIL AVOIDS
DEBATE ON ITALY
League Body Fails to Act on
Reputation of Competency
in Corfu Incident.
By the Associated Press.

take definite action today on the
question of Italys repudiation of the
leagues competency. to intervene in
the Ita1o-Greek situation. The coun-
Gil decided, however, to proceed TO
discussion of the Interpretation OF
the leagues covenant with the as
sistance of experienced jurists.
The meeting was behind closed
doors.
1t was announced that the council
had decided unanimously to investi-
gate, with the assistance of jurists
all questions touching Interpretation
of the covenant and the powers of
the council.
Tt was learned that the council had
privately determined to avoid the
dangers of an open debate on 1talyS
refusal to recognize the leagues COM
potency to handle the Greco-ltalo dis
pute. 1t was said that eX-Premier
SaIandra of Italy at the private meet
ing opposed a public discussion, set
ting forth that it would be liable to
aggravate CONTROVERSIES now prac-
tically settled.
Lord Robert Cecil had agreed to
this reluctantly. because he planned
TO make q detailed answer today 70
Signor Salaudra's arguments Of a
few days ago. especially on the queS-
ton of the occupation Of Corfu.
1t is understood there entered into
the councils decision the conNlctlon
that the general European polltical
situation is gradually improving;
especially respecting reparatlons, ana
that the present was not an
opportune moment to insist upon an
open debate that might envenom the
political atmosphere and even lead 10
1taly's resignation from the league
Wants Meanings Cleared.
Viscount Ishii, presiding over the
council, in proposing in the open ses-
sion the inquiry into the powers of
the council, made the following
statement:
Certain questions of the interpre-
tation of various articles OF the COW
cnant which deal with the powers OF
the council and other questions or IN
ternational law have received the
particular attention of several OF my
colleagues. / think it necessary that
these questions should be settled IN
order to avoid in future any difference
of opinion on these matters ana IN
order to facilitate the work OF the
league.
For this reason l think it is my
duty to propose to the council that
it should undertake. with the help of
legal experts, a studied and thorough
examination of these delicate prob
lens, and that it should consider
without delay the methods best
suited TO attain this end"
Signor Salandra and all the other
members of the council voted for the
resolution embodying these remarks
of Niscount IShii.
This decision has been Interpreted
dlversely by observers NnfA- Some Of
them consider it victory for the
Italian attitude but the majority take
the view that the council desires really
to interpret the covenant without en-
tering too brusquely into the ltalo-
Greek controversy. The jurists to be
consulted will probably be summoned
before the end of the week
Debate May Arise.
The assembly of the league will meet
tomorrow, and it is considered likely
potency in the Italo-Greek situation
may arise
The jurists who will assist the coun-
Gil at the forthcoming examination of
the covenant will probably formulate
a series of questions which will be for
warded to the Permanent Court of In
ternational Justice for. an advisory.
opiniona These questions will be
founded on the Italian affair. and are
expected to take the following form:
How far is a state responsible for
political crimes committed within its
territory?
How far is it justified in seizing
territory as a guarantee?
What questions are excluded from
the competency of the league under
the league covenant?
Are questions involving national
honor and dignity excluded?
All sorts of rumOrS were circulated
in the corridors of the league Secre-
tariat when the council announced
its decision. They included one that
Prime Minister Baldwin, after salts
factory talk with Premier Poincare,
had telegraphed Lord Robert Cecil
not to deliver caustic reply TO
Signor Salandra, as it would tend to
embitter the general political situ-
alton at most inopportune moment.
Silent on Repnrations.
Hands off" the reparations prob
lem, for the moment at least. was the
decision reached yesterday by one of
the main commissions of the league
of nations. This decision. it is be-
lieved, will affect the entire attitude
of the league assembly on this prob
lem. 1t was not reached without
some murmurs.
The reparations issue arose before
the. commission on technical organi-
zations, when Sir Henry Strakosch,
the financial expert representing
South Africa, alluded to the state
ment at the opening of this years
assembly to the effect that the league
was confronted with difficulties owing
to the absence of a settlement of the
questions of reparatfons and inter
allied debts. But after consulting
mis- French and Belgian colleagues,
Sir Henry said, he was convinced of
the advisability of not starting
debate on this delicate subject, which
might aggravate the situation and
hinder eventual settlement.
Sir Hubert Lewellyn Smith of Eng
land deprecated allowing the i'm
preston to exist that the reparations
question was outside the domain of
this commission. He advocated that
the commission make recommended
tions to the league cuncil, as pref
cradle to a general discussion, which
might cause unfortunate dissensions.
Interpret Article Y.
A second important feature of to-
days league activities was the adop-
tion of a resolution interpreting ar
ticle Y of the covenant. The COM
mission adopted new compromise
formula replacing the Canadian
amendment. 1t begins by emphasiz-
ing the existence of a general de-
sire for precision of meaning of ar
ticle X and recommends that the as
sembly adopt several clauses in the
form OF resolution.
The first clause is that in case the
council of the league deems il neces-
sary to recommend the application of
military measures because of an
aggression or menace of aggression.
the council will take into account
the geographical situation and spe-
cial conditions surrounding each
state. The second clause declares
that il is the right of the constitu-
tional powers of each member state
to decide the nature and the extent
of it's obligation to maintain the in
dependence and integrity of territory
of members, and to what extent it
should furnish military assistance.
The last paragraph reads: How
1saff ion laxr 4 IN