Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31
WORLD AFFAIRS


III the League of Nations at the Sep
TENDER session, with a permanent seat
In the Council, generally recognized as
necessity in the regeneration of Eu.
rope, was not accomplished without
bitter wrangling, and resulted in the
loss TO the League of Spain and Brazil.
Those nations and Poland had de-
manded that the Council be enlarged
and that they, too, be given perna.
nent seats. This Great Britain would
not permit, but Poland was pacified by
the devices of creating "semi-perma-
nent" seats, one of which was given
her. Spain and Brazil both gave for
mai notice of their withdrawal from
the League. In the election of mem.
bers of the Council there were some
surprises. Poland. Chile and Ru.
mania were given the three-year seats
and Poland was declared re-eligible.
Colombia, Holland and China were
elected for two years, and single-year
seats We're given to Czechoslovakia
Belgium and Salvador Uruguay had
been considered a certain choice. but
SIX Central American states combined
against her and her candidacy was
withdrawn. The application of Tur.
key for membership in the League
was received, but action was post.
poned for a year.
Begin Peace Agreement.
A special meeting of the League was
held in March for the purpose of re-
celying Germany's application, but the
/ HRnt over the constitution of the
council was SO determined that the
whole matter was postponed until the
regular meeting. After it had been
settled as related above, Foreign Min
listers BRAND and Stresemann slipped
" 70 oA Ill nh
began important negotiations for the
restoration of full amity between
France and Germany Brands peace
policy was later attacked in the
French chamber, hut he had a major.
Hy behind him. and carried it forward
win good prospects of success.
All this time Stresemann was press
ing for an early and complete evacu-
alton Of the Rhineland by the allies
and he also demanded that the allied
commission for the control of German
armament turn over it's duties to the
League of Nations. He also sought
the restoration of the Saar- and the
return of Eupen and Malmedy to Ger
many, proposing to pay 50 900, 00O, 900
Tor these benefits, the money to be OBJ
tained by marketing the railroad and
Industrial debentures authorized by
the Dawes commission. The success
of the plan. it was admitted, depended
on the Willingness of the American
money market to absorb one-uuarter
OF This amount, and the Government
at Washington let it be known that
The French debt settlement must be
ratified before more large bond sales
were authorized
On January 81 the United States
Senate voted for American adherence
TO the World Court, but with five res.
erVations. The most important, the
fifth, read:
That the court shall not render
any advisory opinion, except publicly
AFTER Tue notice to all states adhering
to the court and to all interested
states, and after public hearing or Oh.
portunity for hearing given to any
state concerned; nor shall it without
me consent Of the United States en-
'ertain any request for an advisory
opinion touching any dispute or cues.
ton in which the United States has or
claims an interest,""
Withdrawal Gains Favor.
The 48 nations members of the
court were notified and during the
summer seven of the smallest accept,
ed the reservations. But Il conference
OF the members was called to meet in
Geneva September j, the United States
declining to participate. and strong
opposition developed to this fifth res
eFVatlon. A committee studied the
question and recommended that all
the reservations be accepted but put
upon the 1iftk an Interpretation that
president CoC&dge declared did not
meet the requirement of the Senate
Meanwhile there was q growing senti.
ment among the American Senators
IN favor of resembling the resolution
Of adherence.
Throughout the Summer prepara
tory disarmament commission devoted
much time to the attempt TO formu
late plans for pIenary conference
on most questions it was almost
equally divided into two blocs, one led
by Great Britain and the United
states and the other by France. The
opinions of these groups will be con
sidered at the conference
Among the treaties signed were
those between Germany and Russia
Italy and Spain. France and Rumania
and an agreement between Great
Britain and Turkey ending their dis
pute over the Mosul oil region by com
promise. Despite these pacts and the
conciliatory effsrts OF BRAND Strese
mann and others, the prospects fol
the complete restoration of amity
among the nations OF Europe were
none too bright when the Council of
the League of Nations assembled fol
its December meeting.
France was still insisting on Sc
curity against German aggression or
her and her allies to the East as 6
condition for evacuation Of the Rhine
land and the surrender of allied con
troll of German ornaments, and Ger
many was equally insistent that, since