Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19
EXTREME NATIONALISM
In LEAGUE ELECTIONS
Cliques Work Feverishly for Seats, But
Enthusiasm Marks Final Decision.
Peace Chances Surer.
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
. HE election Of the new Council
by the Assembly of the League
of Nations the past week at
GAna1-n d..c,h 4 L.,

by the Assembly of the League
or Nations the past week at
Il Geneva was dramatic scene.
not without excitement and
some element of uncertainty
For many days, and even until the
moment of voting. there was active
canvassing among the delegates of ~
nations on behalf Of their own claims
or those of their allies and associates.
In the hotels of Geneva. In quiet res.
taurants on its lakeside. in the CORR
doris of the assembly and in evening
receptions national delegates were
busy making out lists of the new
council and promising their support
to this nation or that. Ii was not
until the morning of the election that
everything had been arranged by
groups Of powers whose votes were
pledged by private understandings.
outsiders like myself might make
shrewd guesses at the result of the
election, but all these political comb
nations and fraternities kept their own
secrets pretty close. Every one of
those delegates of ~ nations was in
his seat before President Nitchitch
called upon them to register their
votes and explained the methods of
election. There were to be four sepa-
rate votes. First they were asked to
Vote Tor nine non-permanent members
OF the council next they were asked
to vote for three out of those nine
who would he elected for three years.
lhen they were asked to vote for
'hree who would be elected for two
wears. The remainder of those nine
would serve for one wear Einau,.
they would he asked to vote for any
power which, in their opinion. oug.,i
tr he made re-sligible after one tern
81 ONCE, that is to say, specially reS-
commended for reelection after three
years.
System Held Complicated.
II was All very complicated and IA
'Her absurd. but the delegates took
II All very seriously. The assembly
hall VAS densely crowded and from
my place in the second gallery | could
see discussion going on among com
l,etlhs nations. South American
u'ieeateS were especially excited and
the representative OF Cuba was 90
ing among his Latin American col.
leagues, who were still arguing on
POINTS which they had raised among
themselves overnight. The represen.
'atlVe OF Uruguay had revolted
asdinst thelr system of arranged votes
ana mad sent letter of protest TO the
president of the assembly repudiat
ing these private bargains between
NP" vi states when he believed
were contrary to liberty of election
That letter was read out after tho tirst
result was declared. and although
everybody agreed with it's theory
mere was not one among them who
was quite innocent of similar nledoe.
made to other groups.
BRAND OF France and his fellow
delegates had their list of votes crt
a . orled with all powers friendly to
81
hamberlain had talked over his ist
with both BRAND and Stresemann
Al the last moment certain countries
were among the doubtful cases China
ior instance. was one Of them. he
cause, IN spite Of personal popularity
or the delegate. Mr. Chu. who is
always greeted with friendly smiles.
ne cannot be said to represent any
settled form Of government Certain
british delegates favored Persia rain.
er than China for one Of these conn.
ell seats
Ihen there was Ireland t'itzcer.
aio had put forward a claim on be.
nalf or Ireland only As hours before
the election and had not been to bed
afterward because Of passionate prom.
Uganda on behalf OF 1reland's i'm
rortance in world affairs. His elo-
quence invaded A certain beer house
of Geneva, called Bavarem. where
Stresemann takes his ease after
drinking long glasses OF pale beer.
according to the theory that gentle.
men prefer blondes. which that par.
ticular brand of beer is called in
France. Herr Stresemann. ALWAYS
anna BILE. declared his undyine affec
ton for the Irish race.
Secrecy Mere Pretense.
All the national cliques. esotisms
and ambitions were visible TO watch
ful eyes in that assembly AS the
election took place. \ cynic mich,
have said. "How these nations hate
each other" but, not being cynical.
l only smiled when | saw various
groups getting together. whispering
their last instructions and shaking
lands repeatedly with friendly dele
-ates or other nations thought
what lot Of human nature there
is in the League Of Nations. Ii was
= secret ballot. hut | laughed aloud
When ! saw many delegates showing
heir voting papers and their choice
II nations to other voters. like school
boys handing round their cribs
The delegates of Italy and Japan
we're called to the tribune below the
presidents seat to examine voting pa.
pers and to act as tellers One by
one the countries were called out in
alphabet order and one by one
The delegates advanced TO tho plat.
form and put their little slip Of paper
IN the ballot box with an air of
secrecy and Importance. One saw
again in review each national type
AS It is represented in this assembly
Of nations in single portraits. Such
as the long athletic form Of Mansen,
with his square shoulders and mar
CT ho nrfo Of
Persian prince with astrakhan cap.
Stresemann's German type with shin
ing bald head and stout little body
tightly buttoned in q froCk coat: an
Abyssinian with his black woody
hair: the stopping figure OF BRAND.
with his halfsad. halfironical smile:
chamberlain. essentially and almost
comically English. With his clean-cut
face and characteristic eNeglass;
south Americans, with their smooth
dark hair and Latin elegance. and
other races from far outposts Of civ
liza ton.
Eight on First Ballot.
There was a deep hush in the assem-.
hlv hall when the first results were
read out bv the president Only eight
members had received sufficient ma
loritv votes for election to the Coun,
ell in this first ballot. They were Co
lombia. Poland. Chile. Salvador. Bel
gum. Rumania. Holland and China.
on the second ballot CzechosloNa kla
Was added TO make up these nine non
permanent seats BY subsequent Not-
lrg Poland. Chile and Rumania We're
elected for three years. and Colombia
Thina and Holland for two years. 20
and was the only power claiming the
privilege of reelection after her
three.year term of Office. and that rec
ommendation was granted by SO votes
against s dissentents and blank
pa ers.