Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-22
LEAGUE MAY PUT
MANCHUR|A AHEAD
Or. WI Will Leave Tonight
for Geneva as Official
Delegate of China.
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

BY WILLIAM RUFUS cCOII.
With the departure of DIR. c. C. WI
Chinese Minister to the United States
at midnight on the liner Bremen, fos
Geneva to attend the annual meeting
of the League of Nations as one OF
China's delegates, the dispute with
Soviet Russia over the Manchurian
railroad may become the first business
OF the League unless in the meantime
the situation becomes so acute that tbs
Council of the League goes into action
The appointment of DR.. WI is inter-
preted by observers here as proof OF the
importance which China attaches IL
the negotiations which the League may
initiate as well as to the discussions un-
doubtedly due in the sessions on the
dispute. DR.. WI speaks English huently
and has the prestige also OF having been
a foreign minister of Nationalist China
Article II of the covenant of the
League gives that body authority to take
up any war or threat Of war In the fol-
lowing terms:
ANY war or threat Of war. whether
Immediately affecting any Of the mem
bers of the League or not, is hereby de-
clared a matter of concern to the whole
League, and the League shall take ans
action that may be deemed wise and
effectual to safeguard the peace OF ma
tions. In case any such emergency
should arise the secretary-general shall
on the request of any member OF the
League, forthwith summon meeting OF
the council.
Members Friendly Right.
cit is also declared to be the friendly
right of each member OF the League tc
bring to the attention of the assembly
or OF the Council any circumstance
whatever affecting international reia-
tlons which threatens to disturb inter-
national peace or the good understand
ing between nations upon which peace
depends"
From the foregoing provisions it is
clear that the League may take action
even when a non-member' SUCH as SO
Wet Russia. is concerned China Is a
member of the League and becomes SUD-
feet to the rules of the League regard
ing peaceful procedure before resorting
to war. The United States, not being a
member of the League, is not involved In
any steps taken by the League.
II the League should decide to take a
hand in the dispute the procedure as
outlined in the covenant Is for the
league to invite the non-member nation.
Soviet Russia to become temporary
member of the League for the purpose
of settling the dispute on conditions TO
be laid down by the Council Of the
League.
Should q non-member nation refuse to
take part In this way the council is
empowered to resort to such means OF
settlement as 1t deems wise. Moreover,
If a non-member refuses to take part
and also resorts to war against men,
Der, the League penalties become effec-
tive.
Jurisdiction Limited.
The League is barred from an inter-
vention in dispute If one OF the parties
asserts. and the Council Of the League
decides. that the dispute arises out of
conditions which are solely within the
domestic Jurisdiction of that party.
China or Russia for example. might de-
clare its position solely one Of self de-
Tense and then 1t would be up to the
Council to decide II this were the fact.
What position China as q member will
take before the League or the Council
remains to be disclosed.
In Articles II, Is and Is It is stated
LIl6J dkISC d.iy
dispute arises which they agree is suit
able for submission to arbitration or jul
dicial settlement. and which cannot be
settled satisfactorily by diplomacy. they
will submit the whole subject matter to
arbitration. to judicial settlement, or to
the Council of the League for consider
alton II not submitted to arbitration
or judicial settlement the case must be
submitted to the Council. whose FIRST
duty is to effect a settlement.
When the Council fails in such Ell.
fort, the covenant provides that the
Council shall issue a report, unani-
mously or by majority vote. giving what
the Council considers to be appropriate
report Is unanimous any nation coins
to war in defiance of the decision /.
assumed to have committed an act oil
war against all the members of thu
League.
Can Call on Court.
The penalties to curb such an offend.
ing nation include blockade and othel
coercive measures. but q clear-cut def.
milton Of such action in q practical sit.
uation on q formidable scale has moi
been given. Where the Council report
is not unanimous the members Of the
League reserve the right to take such
action as they consider promotive Of
peace. The Council may ask the Worlc
Court for rulings on any points the
Council considers needing Judicial
Qualification.
What attitude Soviet Russia may take
toward any discussion or action in OF
by the League or the Council is not yet
revealed Whe Their Russia is to be rep.
resented at Geneva by an official or I'M
official observer also has not been an
nounced.
Article 10 covers the question Of the
territorial integrity of a member Of the
League in the following language:
THE members of the League under
take to respect and preserve as against
external aggression the territorial in
tegrity and existing political independ-
ence Of all members of the League"
This provision might be invoked by
China II it should believe that part OF
Manchuria might be permanently oc-
cupied by Soviet Russia.
MnTuEp OE oT0 LANG