New Britain herald., 1923-11-26
LEAGUE COVENANT
To BE EXPLAINED
JuriStS Meet at Geneva to Take
Out Antiquities

Geneva. Nov. 26.-The removal of
antiquities In the covenant OF the
league of nations is the fundamental
object of meeting of eminent jurists
which began here today under the
authority of decision made at the
September assembly of the league
when the ltalian-Greek dispute was
so prominent in the league discus
| sions.
The Italian government maintained
that the covenant did not apply in
/ the controversy with Greece over the
massacre of Italian officers and the
subsequent commandment of Corfu
The question was finally adjusted
by the council of ambassadors which
eollaborated with the council of the
| league, and in the closing hours of
the assembly Italy agreed to the dec
laration that any dispute between
members of the league liable to lead
To rupture was within the sphere
of action of the league.
simultaneously, the council framed
five questions the answers to which,
it was felt. would give a more exact
definition of the meaning of the COW
enant, so that in future political con-
troversies members of the league
might have before them clear state
ment of the league pact. 1t was this
series of questions the experts had
before them today. Their report will
be submitted to the league council on
December 10.
Three Big Questions
Question one asks the jurists 10
give their opinion concerning the
councils duty in case of disputes that
are apt to develop a break between
nations. It is calculated to determine
whether the council, when a dispute
is brought to its attention, is Obliged
to decide whether in point of fact the
dispute In question is of nature
liable to lead TO rupture"
Question two asks whether the
council is bound TO suspend it's in
quiry into a dispute submitted to IL
under article / OF the covenant when,
with the consent of the parties, the
settlement Of the dispute is being
sought through some other channel
Lord Robert Cecil is the active lead
- Of a group of league workers who !
insist that the leagues supreme goal !
is the maintenance of peace, however !
II may be achieved, and that the !
league I'm complicated political con- |
must not make the mistake J
OF insisting on a strict Interpretation |
OF the covenant for the sake of league !
prestige when other means OF peaceful !
settlement are al hand.
Question three reads: rs an ohjec. ]
ton founded on article ten. paragraph !
s. OF the covenant tho only objection !
based on the merits of the dispute |
on which the compliance of the coun-
eli TO make An inquiry can be chal- |
lenged ?" Paragraph s, thus cited. as
- rts That II ono nation contends. and |
tine council so finds. that its dispute
with another nation has arisen out Of
a matter which by international law
Is solely within the domestic iurisdic-
ton OF that country, the council shall
50 report and shall make no recon-
as to its settlement.
The next question is an outgrowth
or the Corfu bomhardment Tho iur-
ists arc asked for their oninions az "a
whether measures ~ coerctnn NOT In.
tended as acts Of war arc consistent !
with the terms of articles 10 TO is.
Uhan sncb stons are taken hv one
~ tho NleaRue aeains, an
other without nrior recourse 10 the
procedure laid down In those articles.