Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-08
LEAGUE Of NATIONS
MEETING FIRST TEST
ON CREEK PROBLEM
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Neased Wire Service to The Journal.) =
~0OnVriphf 1909


~(COpyright. 1921
Something more than passing
interest is being taken here in the
outcome of the controversy between
Italy and the League of Nations.
While officially no part is taken,
the conviction obtains that Italy is
bound by her pIighted word so loEg
as she is a member of the league,
and that if she doesn't like the
league she has the right to with.
draw. But even withdrawal cannot
be effected without fulfilling obliga-
tons already incurred and the view
point of international lawyers is
that Italy cannot escape the juris-
diction of the league covenant sim
ply by announcing her intention to
withdraw
Two years notice must be given
charged all obligations under the
covenant before being released from.
membership.
While Washington is the last
place in the world to argue the
merits or demerits of the league,
nevertheless it is realized that the
covenant of the league is so inter-
woven in the treaty Of Versailles
that disrespect for one article OF
the treaty might be employed as a
precedent for other nations to dis
regard any article of the treaty Of
Versailles which doesn't suit them.
Then, as Lord Robert Cecil said in
Geneva, the whole structure of the
settlement following the great Eu-
ropean war is imperilled.
Position of America
The United States government
recognized that the covenant was
part of the treaty of Versailles and
took especial pains in ratifying
pact with Germany to exclude those
portions of the Versailles treaty
which embraced the league. France
has, since the war, insisted upon
the literal fulfillment of the treaty
OF Versailles. 1t was realized from
the start that questions might arise
as to the meaning of articles of the
covenant.
The permanent court of interna-
ttonal justice was set up as a means
of interpreting the legal antiquities
of the covenant.
France, just the other day, how
ever, refused to submit to the per-
manent court the question of
whether she had the right under the
Versailles treaty to occupy the Ruhr.
But her refusal to submit the con-
troversy is a sovereign right. Should
general war be threatened. France
would be compelled to submit the
Ruhr controversy for consideration
at least by the League.
Italy has more Or less Of a pre-
cedent in the action of the French.
TElS gives to some extent a clue to
the British, affirmed by Lord Rob
ert Cecil, Of insisting on a settle
ment of the Greek-Italian contro-
versy by the League. Great Britain
wishes to see how far France is
willing to uphold the spirit as well
as the letter of the League when
some other nation violates the treaty
of Versailles.
The British, it is noted here, have
seized upon a delicate subject which
has d significance far beyond the
merits, of the dispute between Italy
anT Greece. Whatever France does
in the Italian controversy may be
employedG against her when the
reparatiOn problem or the Ruhr oc-
cupation develops into a question
of rights under the treaty of Yer
sailles and hostilities with Germany.
No u. S. Interference
America is anxious to preserve
the friendship of Mussolini and the
Italian government, so nothing is
being said which could be construed
as interference in what is looked
upon as a purely European affair.
The argument, /however, that
Greece has no right to appeal to the
League of Nations because the |
Athens government is the product of
revolution, and is not a legal gov
eminent, is received with consider |
able amusement here.
The bold march on Rome by hun
dreds of thousands of armed Fas- |
cisti who compelled the Italian min
istry to resign and the king to give |
power to Mussolini under duress is |
recalled as having a bearing on the |
legality of Italy's government, the |
over which in Italy it |
self has not yet subsidized among stu !
dents of constitutional law and par
liamentary government.
The European war was fought to |
secure international respect for !
treaties and contracts between ma |
tionsa If Italy should disregard the |
signature she placed on the treaty |
Of Versailles, the prestige of that |
country will be vitality affected and |
a few observers here have been able |
to see much hope for the peace of |
Europe if individualism and nation
alism are to supersede treaty
pledges.
The interest of Washington in the
outcome is not altogether academic
for if the powers are unable to make
Italy stay in the concert of nations
serious effects are anticipated with
respect to the whole treaty Of Yer
sailles on which so many American
rights and claims are based.