New Britain herald., 1926-03-11
LEAGUE CRISIS IS UNCLAIMED DURING CONFERENCE TODAY
Council Members Meet in Secret Late This Afternoon to Seek
 Solution
SITUATION AT GENEVA
 IS ADMITTEDLY GRAVE

Ambition of Spain To Once More Be
 come Great World Power Is Be-
 ing Reflected In Attltudc-Onc
 Suggestion Tending Toward Set
 tlcmcnt Is To Abolish Privilege of
 Permanent Seats.
 Geneva, March II R,-Mcmbers of the council Of the League of Na- lions went into q secret unofficial session late this afternoon 10 resume The negotiations on the problem Of rCconstructing the council and of Gcrmanys election 10 permanent seat which broke mp scnsationally lust night Premier Briand replaced V. Paul Boncour as the French rep IGsentative.
 The secret meeting followed a brief public session under the prcsi- lcncy of Viscount Ishii of Japan. The public meeting was delayed by iha failure of Alfranio Mello Franco
 
 pear, he being the only absentee. In view of the critical situation caused by Brazil's attitude toward the coun- cil problem, the public began to wonder whether his absence was premeditated.
 The council began its public pro cnedings after waiting nearly half an hour for Senor Mello Franco. Ho appeared later, explaining that he had been delayed by important con- sUltation.
 Report Accepted.
 The outstanding development this forenoon was the unanimous adop- ton by the assembly's full political committee of the sub-committee's report recommending Germans ad~ mission to the league.
 M. Briand arrived at 9:15 a. n. and immediately conferred with M Paul. Boncour and Louis Loucheur of the French delegation. who de- scribed for him the development of the council controversy since his de- parture Tor Paris to adjust the French ministerial crisis.
 In adopting the sub-committee's report, the assembly's political con- mittee smashed precedent by de- nouncing the right to conroke rep resentatives of the German dc .ega- ion to give information concerning Germany's International status and her desire sincerely to conform with her international engagements. Pronunciation of this privilege prevented further complication of the delicate situation, as it was real izad that the German leaders, in view Of the uncertainty over the council membership question, might well decline to send delegates before the committee.
 Situation Serious. The fact that Premier Briand abandoned Paris at such an impor- tant moment in French political life vas taken as an indication of how serious the international situation had become in Geneva, for today opened with the League of Nations in peril and the entire Locarno pol icy of European reconciliation Joo- pardized.
 Last night M. Paul-Boncour said the situation was "ripening," while this morning he remarked: T should say it is not ripening but rotting,"
 The feeling everywhere today was that only Briand could clarify tho mnddle growing out of intrigue and struggle for privileged positions ill the conduct Of league affairs.
 As NJ Briand stepped off his train, he declared it regrettable that aL- fairs had reached such stage as 10 make Germany think there was common plot against Germany, Such I an impression was ridiculous, he said insisting that he had always i understood that some Of the smaller powers sought seats in the council Enlargement of the council would be a policy of wisdom, he thought, because. if disputes arising from the operation of the Locarno pact ever reached the league. as they must under certain contingencies, 6 majority Of the great powers in the council could not, under the rules participate in the voting; hence the urgency of introducing into the council states which were not con- nccted with the main Locarno ac- cord.
 Yesterday the allied nations saw that the situation revolving around the council membership quarrel has almost gotten beyond their control Brazil declared that she j could only vote for Germany if she were admitted into the council, an attitude which. If persisted in, meant that Germany could not be given council membership, since unanimity is requisite, and that l Ccrmany's delegates would prob ably return to Berlin.
 With Spain non-committal con- corning her eventual action on Gcrmany's candidacy, and Japan's aititude at least reserved and mys- "rious, NJ. Unden, Sweden's youth
 | foreign minister, pounding the
 ble with his fist, stuck unflinch-
 ely to his attitude that the coun- cil must not be increased beyond the addition of Germany.
 Foreign Minister Yanguas Y Mes sia of Spain introduced into the sit uation today what was regarded by some as a conci,iatory note by in- sisting that what Spain would do in the event her demand for a seat was rejected had never been disclosed, thus giving the impression that