The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
FRENCH WIN DAY
 IN LEAGUE ROW OVER SECURITY
Assembly Agrees To Sep. arate Convention Re-
 lating To Arbitration
(By Associated Press. ]

GENEVA, Sept. 13.-Differences of opinion characterized the meeting today of the subcommittee of the League of Nations assembly designed to draft a project of security and disarmament, either in substitution for amendment of the famous pact of mutual assist ance, which now has been before the League of Nations for three years.
 The question of security is definitely linked in all minds with that of arbi- tration, and the delegates are exper- fencing considerable difficulty in draw ing up any plan of security without taking into account the assembly's view on arbitration.
 Some of the delegates urged today that entire emphasis should be placed on arbitration and security; others ad vocated that the problem of tlisarma- ment should be given first place. Still others believed that the arbitration and security agreements should become ef- fective only when the disarmament con ference is held.
 French Eventually Win
 Eventually the French won the day. That is, that any convention relating to arbitration and security would be distinct and separate. though it would be clearly understood that when the powers signed this convention they pledged themselves to take part in a disarmament conference.
 Dr. Edward Renes, of Czecho-slo- vakia, was appointed to prepare the text of the convention as basis for further discussion. Great Britain. France, Japan, Sweden, Norway and Czecho- -slovakia participated in the de- bate.
 Is Open Covenant
 The protocol or convention which it is hoped to elaborate will be an open covenant which states that non-mem- bers of the League of Nations may sign or adhere to it conditionally if the pre- liminary decisions of the committee to- day are ratified by the assembly. The general impres sionprevailing after ad- journment of the session was that Dr. Benes' draft of the new project would be based on the old pact of guarantees,
 Another outstanding feature of to- days deliberations was the lively dis cussion of Frances proposal to amend paragraph seven or article XV of the covenant This paragraph provides that when the council of the League of Nations fails to reach a unanimous de- cision concerning a dispute between nations the members of the league re- serves the right to take such action as may be necessary for the maintenance of right and justice.
 Push Arbitration Idea
 Feeling that this paragraph is dan gerous, because inconclusive, France, in pursuit of her program to have all conflicts, both judicial and political, ], submitted to arbitration, has suggested an amendment of which the arbitration idea is the essence. It is that the council when failing to attain unani- mity would appoint arbitrators for the conflict in question and strive for unanimity later when the judgment of the arbitrators was pronounced.
 The French proposal was favorably received, but no decision was reached.
 A dramatic incident of the meeting was the statement by Rene Cassin of France, honorary president of the Fed eral Union of Mutilated Former Com batans, that the men who fought in the great war stood solidly as one in behalf of acceptance of arbitration in all con Aicts between nations.