Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-22
COVENANT CHANGE
PLAN MEETS SNAG
Vain Effort for Harmony With
Kellogg Peace Pact Is
Made at Geneva.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, September 22.-The pro-
posal to harmonic the League of Ma
tions covenant with the Briand-Kel-
logg pact ran against obstacles in the
Juridical Committee of the League AS
sembly today.
Nobumi Ito, the Japanese member,
suggested that the question of principle
as to the desirability Of amending the
covenant was first to be determined.
As a member Of the committee of IL
iurists who worked out the proposed
amendments. he took the same position
when that body was celebrating last
Spring, but he was overruled. His col
leagues held that the Assembly last
year had decided in favor of the
amendment. It asked the committee
today first to decide this question of
principle.
DR.. vasco de Quevedo of Portugal
also cast some doubts on the propriety
of amending the Leagues constitutional
instruments. He thought it would be
more fitting to amend the Kellogg pact
to make 1t harmonic with the League
covenant than to change the covenant
In order to make the covenant agree
with the Kellogg pact.
The Austrian delegate, Max Hof-
finger. expressed the opinion that the
Assembly already had decided 1t was
desirable to amend the covenant.
Contains Root Formula.
The American connection with this
incident and with the protocol for re-
vision are Of interest to all of the
League members. The protocol for
membership of the United States in
the World Court contains the Elihu
Root formula, which embodies guar
antees of protection of American in
terests If and when another nation pro-
poses to ask the courts advisory opin-
ion on any case involving American
interests. This advisory opinion will
not be rendered without the consent of
the American Government.
The protocol for revision Of statutes
a parallel instrument to the other, con-
tairs provisions which carry similar
guarantees and furthermore would
make these guarantees the law Of the
court Of embodying them in its statutes
As long as enactment of the protocol
of revision Is held up these guarantees
which is embodies and which the Am
erican Government relies upon as
grounds for American entry into the
World Court, remain inactive.
Thus Cuba, while obstructing full
adoption of the protocol for revision, is
held to be menacing ratification by the
American Senate of the protocol for
American entry into the Court.
Greek Minister Apologies.
Nicholas Politis, Greek foreign min
lister, today made public amends to
Cuba for the resentment he aroused
last week by publicity criticizing Cuban
opposition to immediate entry In force
of the protocol.
M. Politis expressed his regret that
anything he had said had wounded
Cuban feelings. DR.. Orestes Ferrara,
the Cuban chief delegate, who had
drawn Politis' fire, and who had re-
taliated in the Assembly, acknowledged
the Greek statesman's apology and ex-
pressed his appreciation for the noble
speech" containing his entirely salts
factory explanation OF his attitude"
M. Poltis assured Senior Ferrara and
his colleagues of the Assembly Commit
tee before which the original clash had
occurred, that anything he had said had
arisen out Of his extreme anxiety lest