Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-11
Gloom in Geneva
Over Outlook in
Council of League

1aA SA 1V.-(AP) The
Crisis IN the affairs of the council of
the League Of Nations was consid-
cred critical late tonight. Contrary
to the somewhat rosy reports biven
out by some of the members that the
situation was ripening toward an
accord reliable information indi-
coted trait three members of tho
council, Brazil, Spain and Japan. do
cllned today at the unofficial meeting
oi the council to say that they would
vote Tor the election of Germany as
a permanent member,
Inc greatest gloom prevails among
an the delegations and it is though
that only the master hand of BRAND
can save the situation which, in the
view OF the many leaders, threatens
tue very existence of the league it.
self.
Afranic Mello Franco of Brazil in
formed the council that he had ex
plicit instructions from the presi-
dent OF the Brazilian republic that if
he votedHn favor of giving Germany
permanent seat he must simultane-
ously vote Brazil the same privilege.
According to one report Mello Fran
co told the council that if Brazil
was not accorded permanent seat
now she would withdraw from the
legue but would veto the election of
Germany while she remained a mem
Der OF the council. Mella Franco re-
fused tonight to confirm or deny
whether he had made the latter state
ment.
The climax of the session came
When one member. hoping to get
some tangible results from the de-
pate, put the direct question to all
the members of the council: care
YOU ready to vote for the election of
German?"
Brazil answered as indicated
above, while Count Quinones de Lyon
OF Spain refused to answer at all, be-
lieving, as prominent Spaniard said,
that silence is golden"
Japan was absolutely non commit
tai, to the surprise of many.
The big powers, who are committed
to vote for Germany by the agree
ment reached at Locarno, announced
they will do so. Paul Boncour of
France spoke of "a possibly COLLAPSE
ing league" and warned his colleagues
OF dangerous repercussion on Europe
of any breakup of the league of ma
lions.
Appeals to the British and French
statesmen met with no response. ana
the council found itself. not in the
situation of deciding whether places
would be given to other states than
Germany, but confronted with the
possibility that not even Germany
could be admitted unless the de-
mands of some of the other coun-
tries We're satisfied.
Today'S direct action on the Ger
man question followed what was
practically a German ultimatum that
If Germany did not enter the council
alone Chancellor Luther and DR..
Stresemann would return to Berlin.
1t is learned that Japan is not
necessarily opposed to the election of
Germany to the council but. viewing
the question from another angle,
would like to know how many mem
bers will support Germany. Japan
wants to be certain whether it is the
councils intention to create other
permanent seats, reviewing the en-
tire field of candidates. she may sell
ect the countries, including Germany,
whom she believes best fitted for
chairs.
The leaders appear to feel that
both Spain and Japan can be pro-
perly hndled when it comes to a
showdown, with BRAND present, per-
haps by some definite assurance that
Spain will later have a permanent
chair and that China, whom Japan
does not desire to fall into the hands
of Soviet Russia, will find an oppor-
tunity to become at least a non-per-
manent member of the council. The
cause of Poland for a permanent
chair has apparently fallen into the
background with her only hope of
election to permanent seat in the
reorganization of the council.