February 14, 1933 (2)

He asserted that the present disunion could not exist indefinitely; that league feeling as a whole was against it; that this was shown by the admission of Hungary to the league and the suggestions for the admission of Germany and Turkey; that moral disarmament, of which much bad been said, was but another name for intellectual cooperation and for that inward peace which it was the league's duty to foster.

The resolutions of the second committee on intellectual cooperation were then adopted, as follows:

1. The assembly takes note of the report of the committee on Intellectual cooperation and highly appreciates the work accomplished by the latter committee at its first session, and also the systematic and judicious method in accordance with which the committee has drawn up the program of its future work. The assembly congratulates the chairman of the committee on intellectual cooperation, M. H. Bergson, together with his colleagues, upon their useful and remarkable work, and expresses the hope that the committee wm pursue its work with the help of the most competent men of all countries to the extent allowed by the credits proposed by the fourth committee of the assembly.

2. The assembly notes with satisfaction the resolutions in which the council has authorized the committee on intellectual cooperation to undertake an inquiry into the position with regard to intellectual work and to appoint three subcommittees to inv--s­ tigate questions of bibliography, questions of interuniversity cooperation, and questions of intellectual proprietary rights.

3. The assembly decides to send an appeal to all countries which have not yet accepted the conventions relating to the international exchange of publications signed at Brussels on March 15, 1886, asking them to give their adhesion thereto.

4. The assembly has noted with much interest the detailed investigations carried out by the committee on intellectual cooperation regarding the conditions of intellectual life in countries where its continuance is especially endangered. The assembly invites the council to follow up this important question within the limits proposed by the committee.

5. The assembly invites the council to stimulate an intellectual cooperation based upon international solidarity in order to procure scientific books and documents for the universities and schools of those countries which as a result of war have been deprived of them and which have not sufficient resources to acquire them.

Twenty-second meeting, Friday, September 29, 1922, 10 a. m.

TELEGRAM FROM PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

The president read a telegram from the President of the Portuguese Republic thanking the assembly for its message of congratulation on the fourth centenary of the circumnavigation of the globe.

CONTRIBUTION FROM SALVADOR TO LEAGUE EXPENSE

Mr. Struycken, Netherlands, reporter for first committee, read the committee report on the question of Salvador's contribution to league expense and submitted the following resolution:

The assembly decides that the report which the first committee has received from its subcommittee on the claim of Salvador be transmitted without discussion to the council of the league, together with copies of the proces-verbal of the committee and of the discussions which have taken place within it in order that the council may take such action in the matter as it C:onsiders appropriate.

The report of the subcommittee contained the following conclusions which the reporter also submitted:

The subcommittee is of opinion:

1. That the expenses of the labor organization as determined by article 399, paragraph 2, of the treaty of Versailles should be included among the expenses of the league and be borne by all its members, including Salvador, in the proportions established by article 6 of the covenant.

2. That the expenses of the league which fall to be borne by all its members are not limited to such expenses as are connected 1n a strict sense with the working of the secretariat but include au expenses legally incurred by the organs of the league and inscribed in its annual budget as voted by the assembly and that Salvador can not consequently refuse to pay its appropriate share of such expenses.

Resolution and conclusions adopted.

AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 1, ASSEMBLY RULES OF PROCEDURE

Mr. Struycken, Netherlands, reporting for first committee, presented the following report:

The proposal to amend article 1 of the rules of procedure made by Mr. Hanotaux, French delegate, and Mr. Scialoja, Italian delegate, has been examined by the first committee.

The majority of the committee considers that it would be best not to alter the provisions of the rules of procedure on this point. The considerable number of delegates who are engaged in parliamentary and university work would in particular find it difficult, 1.f not impossible, to attend the meetings of the assembly 1f they were held later. Under these conditions the clear advantages of the proposal, which consist of giving more time for the commissions meeting in August and at the beginning of September, do not seem sufficient to justify the adoption of the proposaL

Committee's conclusions adopted by assembly.

AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 14, ASSEMBLY RULES OF PROCEDURE

Mr. Trygger, Sweden, reporting for first committee submits a resolution as follows:

The assembly adopts the following amendment to rule 14 of its rules of procedure:

Rule 14, paragraph 2, shall read as follows:

" 2. The assembly shall not decide items on the agenda in full meeting until the report of a committee upon them has been presented and circulated unless the assembly itself, by a twothirds majority, determines otherwise."

Reports by a committee involving the expenditure of money must indicate whether the expenditure will constitute part of the general expenses of the league or whether it will be recovered from the members of the league particularly concerned.

Reports by a committee other than the finance committee recommending action which will involve the expenditure of money shall be accompanied by as close an estimate as time and circumstances allow of the amount of the expenditure involved. This estimate shall, before the matter is brought before the assembly, be submitted to the fourth committee in order that it may be checked by that committee.

No resolution involving expenditure shall in any case be voted by the assembly before the finance committee shall have expressed its opinion on the advisability of the proposed expenditure from the point of view of general budgetary resources.

The assembly at the same time decides that paragraph 2 of article 19 of the regulations for the financial administration of the League of Nations shall read as follows:

"In accordance with paragraph 2 of rule 14 of the rules of procedure of the assembly, and subject to any amendment thereof, the following rules shall apply:

"(a) Reports by a committee involving the expenditure of money must indicate whether the expenditure will constitute part of the general expenses of the league or whether it will be recovered from the members of the league particularly concerned. "(b) Reports by a committee other than the finance committee recommending action which will involve the expenditure of money shall be accompanied by as close an estimate as time and circumstances allow of the amount of the expenditure involved. This estimate shall, before the matter is brought before the assembly, be submitted to the fourth committee in order that it may be checked by that committee.

"(c) No resolution involving expenditure shall in any case be voted by the assembly before the finance committee shall have expressed its opinion on the advisability of the proposed expenditure from the point of view of general budgetary resources."

Resolution approved.

CONTRmUTIONS UNPAID

Mr. Zahle, Denmark, chairman; Mr. Trygger, Sweden, reporter, fourth committee, took places on platform, the latter reading the committee's report on unpaid contributions, and submitted the following conclusion:

The assembly approves the principles and proposals which are laid down in the report of the fourth committee (A. 145, 1922) concerning the contributions still remaining to be paid for the fiscal period up to January 1, 1922.

Conclusion agreed to.

NONPERMANENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

Mr. Barthelemy, France, reporter for first committee, presented its report and the following resolutions and recommendation:

I. The assembly adopts, for the election of the nonpermanent members of the council, the following rules of procedure:

The members whose representatives are to sit on the council as nonpermanent members of that body shall be selected by the assembly by secret ballot.

Where several seats are to be filled the election shall be made by voting a list of names. Any ballot paper containing more names than there are seats to be filled shall be null and void.

No member shall be elected at the first or at the second ballot unless it has obtained at least the absolute majority of the votes. If, after two ballots, there still remain seats to be filled, a third ballot shall be held upon a list consisting of the candidates which obtained most votes at the second ballot up to a number double that of the seats still to be filled, and those members shall be elected Which obtain the greatest number of votes.

If two or more members obtain the same number of votes and there is not a seat available for each, a special ballot shall be held between them; if they again obtain an equal number of votes, the president shall decide between them by drawing lots. II. Pending the ratification by the states of the amendment to article 4 of the covenant voted by the assembly in 1921, and without prejudice . to the right of the assembly to "select in its discretion," in accordance with the provisions of the covenant, the nonpermanent members of the council the committee recommends that the assembly declare:

The nonpermanent members of the council are elected for a period of three years commencing on the first day of January following the date of their election.

Retiring members are not eligible for reelection until the expiration of a period of three years.

One-third of the nonpermanent part of the council shall be renewed each year.

If one or two of the members now on the council are reelected, their mandates shall terminate at the end of the first year.

If more than two members now on the council are reelected, lots shall be drawn to determine which one or which two of them shall not retire until the end of the second year.

If necessary, lots will be drawn to determine the order of retirement as between newly elected members so as to bring up to two the number of members retiring.

The drawing of lots to determine the members which are to retire shall be effected by the council and shall take place at least two months before the session of the assembly which is to make the election.

If for any reason a seat on the council filled by any state should become vacant during the first period of three years, the state shall be considered as having retired, with the result that if such vacancy occurs during the first year lots shall only be drawn for one seat, and if the vacancy occurs during the second year lots shall only be drawn for one seat.

If such vacancy occurs after the expiration of the first period of three years, the assembly shall fill it at the session following its occurrence, but the member so elected shall only complete the current mandate.

Recommendation: It is desirable that the assembly in electing the six nonpermanent members of the council should make its choice with due consideration for the main geographical divisions of the world, the great ethnical groups, the different religious traditions, the various types of civilization, and the chief sources of wealth.

Mr. Barthelemy called attention to the fact that the second assembly had proposed an amendment to the covenant enabling the assembly to draft a system of rules, that this amendment had not been ratified, and that it was doubtful whether the assembly adopt a system at present; that the committee submitting this amendment to the second assembly had made a reservation safeguarding the liberty of the assembly. To meet the situation, he said, the first committee now functioning had presented: (1) A reso­ REGULATIONS lution containing rules of procedure for the ballot within the assembly; (2) a resolution containing a pronouncement of principle and substance; and (3) a recommendation. He added that the committee took no definite position as t<> the legal force of its declaration and reserved the liberty of follows: the next assembly.

Prince Arfa-Ed-Dowleh, Persia, asked that in electing nonpermanent members the assembly should consider the geographical situation, ethnical, religious, and commercial conditions of the various systems of civilization, and that a seat should be allotted to Asia with its 850,000,000 people. Lord Balfour, British Empire, proposed a redraft of the preamble of the second resolution, as follows:

Pending the ratification by the states of the amendment of article 4 of the covenant voted by the assembly in 1921, and without prejudice to the right of the assembly " to · select in its discretion," in accordance with the provisions of the covenant the nonpermanent members of · the council, the assembly recommends the fourth assembly to adopt the following regulations, Lord Balfour explained that this redraft would mean the elision of the eighth paragraph of the second resolution; that in this way unanimity would be obtained in the assembly; that it was desirable, however, to recommend to states members ratification of amendments to the covenant proposed by the second assembly so that the fourth assembly might not find itself in position similar to that now facing the third.

Mr. Bourgeois, France, supported the proposal of Balfour. The president announced a motion by Lord Balfour in the following terms:

The assembly declares that it is of the highest importance that the amendments to the covenant already passed should be ratified by the governments of the members of the league, and requests the council to take all proper measures to secure this result.

Mr. Scialoja, Italy, approved the Balfour motion and suggested that if the assembly desired to recommend ratification it should consider the text of a recommendation drafted by the first committee in this language:

The assembly calls the attention of the delegations to the fact that it is of the utmost importance for the authority and the proper working of the League of Nations that the states should ratify at a very early date the amendments of the covenant voted by the first and second assemblies, with the exception of amendments 2 and 3 to article 6. •

He added that the first committee recommended immediate ratification of the first amendment to article 6, so that the assembly could fix rules for election of members of council.

Mr. Tang-Tsai Fow, China, thanked the Persian delegate for the testimony he had borne to the solidarity of Asia, and referred to the action of China in submitting to the first committee draft regulations for election of nonpermanent members of council on the principle of geographical distribution, five seats to go to European and American members, the sixth to a non-European and non-1\merican state. He contended that this would have assured the universal character of the council, awakening interest of countries remote from the sphere of the activities of the league, and facilitating rotation by giving every member a chance to sit on the council. He pointed out that the first assembly had made formal recommendations to this effect. He added that the first committee, however, had deemed it in line with duty to adopt a compromise between two points of view and that the Chinese delegation, in a spirit of conciliation, reserving future liberty, would support the committee action.

Lord Balfour announced his acceptance of Mr. Scialoja's suggestion.

Mr. Motta, Switzerland, announced his approval of the Balfour proposals with the understanding that they did not affect the substance of the resolutions.

Resolutions as amended and recommendation carried.

Lord Balfour's motion regarding ratification, as amended, was then adopted.

Twenty-third meeting, Friday, September 29, 1922, 3.30 p. m.

FOR FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF LEAGUE-FOURTH COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Zahle, Denmark, president, Mr. Melot, Belgium, reporter, fourth committee, took seats on platform, Mr. Melot presenting report and conclusions, the latter being as Whereas the recommendation of the assembly adopted on September 17, 1920, with regard to the administration of the finances of the League of Nations, as modified by the recommendations of October 4, 1921, requested the council to prepare for the annual session of the assembly in 1922, a final resolution concerning the administration of the finances of the League of Nations;

And whereas the council requested the commission of control to prepare a draft of such a resolution, and the commission has submitted such a draft which has been considered by the assembly. The assembly of the League of Nations adopts the regulations for the administration of the finances of the League of Nations. Conclusions adopted by assembly.

BUDGET AND ACCOUNTS; REPORT BY FOURTH COMMITTEE

Mr. Zahle, Denmark, chairman; Mr. Adatci, Japan, reporter, fourth committee, came to seats on platform, the reporter presenting the following resolution:

The assembly of the League of Nations finally passes the expenditure and income accounts for the third fiscal period ending December 31, 1921.

The reporter, Mr. Adatci, stated that the budget estimates for the period 1923 showed an inevitable increase over prior ones, and urged the reduction of expenditures to the minimum. The forthcoming budget, he said, called for 25,623,000 francs, making the unit contribution 27,851 francs. He told the assembly that the fourth assembly had cut down all expenditures not absolutely indispensable.

Mr. Rivas-Vicuna, Chile, regretted the existing system which controlled finances in accordance with the requirements of the administration and calculated receipts only afterwards in accordance with its needs; that expenditure should be stabilized, the contribution of each state determined and the budget regulated in consonance with resources available. He urged that the league make sure that the states embodied their contributions in their budgets; that an increase, however, in the league budget, without modifying the number of units, would weigh heavily on states in financial difficulties; that the value of each unit be fixed for three or five years; that the council submit such a plan to the next assembly.

Sir James Allen, New Zealand, urged acceptance of scale proposed, and that delegates urge their governments to pay annual contributions as soon as possible. He asserted that the financial position of the league was disquieting, that contributions in arrears amounted to more than 14,000,000 francs, causing a deficit; that the league would be compelled to raise a loan from the banks if amounts due were not paid; that delegates should urge their governments to pay their contributions for 1923 as soon as possible, as well as all or part of arrears.

Mr. Urrutia, Colombia, stated that it was difficult to induce parliaments to vote larger sums each year for the league; that he hoped the league budget would not increase during the next few years; and that no new technical bodies would be formed until the league was on a permanent footing.

Mr. Amador, Panama, asserted that the increasing league budget and the deficit were disquieting to the parliament of his country; that the true friends of the league would continue to support in every way and that every effort must be made to guard against an excessive increase of expense.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Adatci then presented a second resolution from the fourth committee, as follows:

The assembly adopts the first report of the commission of control and the supplementary report in so far as its recommendations have not already been acted upon or are not at variance with other specific decisions of the third assembly or of its fourth committee. Resolution agreed to.

Mr. Adatci, for the fourth committee, next submitted two additional resolutions in the following terms:

(a) The assembly recommends that, in view of the necessity of realizing economies in the financial administration of the league, the council should always hold its sessions at Geneva except in the case of absolutely exceptional circumstances necessitating a session at some other place.

(b) The assembly of the League of Nations, in accordance with article 4 of the recommendations adopted by the first assembly on the administration of the finances of the League of Nations dated September 17, 1920, approves for the fiscal period 1923 the general budget of the league and the budget of the international labor organiz a tion and the supplementary credits, amounting in all to 25,623 , 508 francs, and decides that these budgets shall be published 1n the official journal.

Mr. Reynald, France, observed that all members of the assembly favored economy, but that the intellectual organization had been too parsimonious; that the allowed credit of 50,000 francs should be doubled; that the international labor office was worthy of praise, but gave insufficient attention to the organization of intellectual work; that the material welfare of intellectual workers should be looked after and their organization placed on an international basis.

The Maharajah of Nawanagar, India, supported Mr. Reynald, contending that nothing was more important than restoration of rights due to intellectual activities; that the league should press to a successful ending the work it had been first to begin.

Sir Edgar Walton, South Africa, opposed the suggested increase on the ground of economy, pointing out that 75,010 francs had been provided for intellectual cooperation, with a supplementary credit of 50,000 francs.

Mr. Zumeta, Venezuela, argued that a vote for the increase would do honor to the league.

Sir Joseph Cook, Australia, deemed the provision already made to be sufficient and opposed the addition from the standpoint of economy.

Mr. Fielding, Canada, took the economical view and opposed the suggested increase, claiming also that there had not been sufficient time properly to study the matter.

Mr. Bellegarde, Haiti, favored the increase, holding that it was too small to render the financial situation more com . ­ plicated.

Mr. Adatci, reporter, said he was in personal sympathy with the proposal, but asked that it be withdrawn for the coming year in the interest of harmony.

Mr. Reynald insisted on his suggestion, which he presented in these terms:

The assembly-

In view of the fact that the work undertaken by the committee on intellectual cooperation, in accordance with the decision of the second assembly, can not be satisfactorily carried out without adequate financial provisions in the budget--

Decides to raise the credits shown for this purpose under the heading of International Bureau and Miscellaneous Questions to the sum of 175,000 francs.

Proposal adopted.

Committee resolutions as amended by Mr. Reynold's pro· posal were then carried.

BUILDING SITES OFFERED BY SWISS CONFEDERATION AND BY CANTON AND CITY OF GENEVA

Mr. Adatci, for fourth committee, submitted the following resolution:

The assembly of the League of Nations, having noted the letter from the Swiss delegation, dated September 14, 1922, addressed to the secretariat of the League of Nations on behalf of the federal council and on behalf of the council of state of the Republic and Canton of Geneva and of the administrative council of the city of Geneva, which provides that, subject to the ratification by the constitutional powers, both Federal and Genevese, and in order to assist the league to acquire 1n due time premises suitable for the holding of the assembly and for use as offices by the International Labor Office, by obtaining possession of land in Geneva suitably placed for their requirements, the following sites are offered as a gift:

(1) On the part of the Swiss Confederat(ion, the premises situated at 154, Rue de Lausanne, on the shores of the lake, and having an area of 35 , 845 square meters;

(2) On the part of the Republic and Canton of Geneva and the city of Geneva, the land adjacent to the secretariat on the side nearest to the city and having an area of 4,493 square meters; expresses its warm appreciation of the generosity and the good will shown toward the League of Nations which inspired these offers and gives full powers to the council:

(1) To accept these offers as soon as they have both been definitely made; and

(2) To authorize the secretary general to act on behalf of the League of Nations to carry out the transfer of the property rights. Resolution adopted and the president authorized to address a letter of thanks to the Swiss authorities.

LIMITATION OF COUNCIL EXPENDITURES

Mr. Adatci, from fourth committee, submitted this resolution:

The assembly, considering that the present financial position of all countries renders the strictest economy necessary on the part of the League of Nations, especially in so far as new work involving the league in new expenditure is concerned, even if this work was contemplated by conventions or resolutions antedating the present session of the assembly:

Requests the council of the league and the governing body of the international labor office to see that work of this nature should be undertaken between the third and fourth assemblies only in cases of extreme urgency.

The assembly also requests the council of the league and the governing body of the international labor office to submit to the fourth assembly a statement of new work, involving new expenditure on the part of the league , undertaken in accordance with the conditions mentioned in the first paragraph.

Resolution agreed to.

RECOVERABLE EXPENDITURE

Mr. Adatci, Japan, submitted another resolution from the fourth committee reading as follows:

With regard to the decision of the council dated July 21, 1922, the fourth committee desires to express its full approval of the principle that expenditure incurred for special investigations in the particular interests of one or more members of the league shall be met by that or those members of the league.

Resolution carried.

DEFERRED PAY AND PENSIONS; PENSION TO DOCTOR PARDO'S CHILD

Mr. Adatci, Japan, brought forward two additional resolutions from the fourth committee which were as follows:

(a) The assembly: .

Whereas, the fourth committee only received the report of the . salaries adjustment committee on the subject of a deferred pay and pensions scheme for the secretariat and international labor office at its last meeting, two days before the close of the assembly; Whereas, it was impossible in these circumstances to consider this question with the necessary care:

Decides to transmit the report that was submitted to it to the commission of control and requests the council to submit to the members a final report four months before · the opening · of the fourth session of the assembly.

(b) The assembly feels much sympathy for the case of Doctor Pardo, an official of the international labor office, who died while on a mission to Russia, leaving a young child in difficult circumstances. The assembly duly signifies its approval of the decision of the governing body of the international labor office, recommending that a sum equivalent to one-fourth of Doctor Pardo's salary should be devoted to the maintenance and education of his son.

The assembly decides to include for this purpose a sum of donation. '1,500 francs in the supplementary estimates.

Mr. Cava~ni,. Italy, observe~ that the scheme devised by the salaries adjustment committee was not acceptable to I the fourth committee; that though the scheme was proposed late m the sessiOn, It might have been possible to have provided a certain payment by employees matched by an equal sum from the league but the committee did not think this

· . t' t t ·t · th 1 ha would be possible; that Great Bn am, never e ~ss, raiSed the question at the first assembly and obtained an approval of the principle; that the second assembly had instructed a committee to devise a plan· that if no account were taken of what the first two assemblies had done a disquieting effect would be produced among the employees; that the third assembly ought to provide a pension scheme for the staff.

Mr. Zotlale, Denmark, agreed to the importance of a plan, saying that it meant, however, an expenditure of 750,000 francs a year and a very complicated system; that it had come before the fourth committee too late in the present session; that the assembly should send the report of the salaries adjustment committee to the commission of control and should invite the council to submit to league members a final report four months before the opening of the next assembly.

Resolutions adopted.

VALIDITY OF VOTE OF INCREASED CREDIT FOR INTELLECTUAL COOPERATION

Mr. Trygger, Sweden, said he questioned the validity of the vote of an increased credit for intellectual cooperation; that in . his · opinion the committee resolution should have been adopted unanimously under the terms of the covenant; that without the desire to raise objections he proposed the submission of the question to the council for examination. The president supported this proposal, holding that it would be helpful to have the council's opinion on procedure to be followed in connection with budgetary questions.

Proposal approved by assembly.

Report of fourth committee adopted as a whole.

AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES 4 AND 7, RULES OF PROCEDURE

Mr. de Palacios, Spain, reporting for first committee, presented the resolution following:

(1) The following text shall be substituted for the original text of article 4, paragraph 1, and paragraph 2 (a) and (b) :

1. The agenda shall be drawn up by the secretary general with the approval of the president of the council. The complete agenda shall be circulated to members as nearly as possible four months before the date fixed for the opening of the session.

2. The agenda of a general session shall include:

(a) A report on the work of the council since the last session, on the work of the secretariat, and on the measures taken to execute the decisions of the assembly.

Subparagraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) shall be, respectively, lettered (2) The following text shall be substituted for the original text of article 7 :

1. The officers of the assembly shall consist of a president and of six vice presidents, together with the chairmen of the main committees of the assembly, who shall be ex-officio vice presidents of the assembly. These officers shall form the general committee.

2. The president shall be elected at the beginning of each session.

3. Until the election of . the president, the president of the council shall act as president of the assembly.

4. The election of the vice presidents shall take place at one 'of the early meetings of the session.

Resolution adopted.

Twenty-fourth meeting Saturday, September 30, 1922, 10 a. m.

RATIFICATION BY POLAND OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO COVENANT

The president announced that the Polish Government had ratified the amendments to the covenant of the league voted by the second assembly, except the amendment to article 6.

ASIA MINOR REFUGEES

Th e presi 'd en t no t'fi I e d th e assem bl Y th a t th e f ll o owmg · countries had contributed the following amounts for Asia Minor refugees: Great Britain, £50,000; Canada, £5,000; Norway, £1,000; Sweden, £1,000; New Zealand, £1,000; Denmark, £1,000,· Greece, 1,000,000 drachmas-about £5,000,· Spain, £2,000.

The president stated that Luxemburg had promised a

PAN AMERICAN CONGRESS

Mr. Van Eysinga, Netherlands, submitted the following resolution, as reporter for second committee:

The assembly expresses a desire that at the next Pan American Congress the members of the League of Nations represented at the congress should call the attention of the latter to the work of the technical organizations of the League of Nations;

Expresses a desire that these members should consider the d means by which any future action contemplated by the Pan American Congress in connection with any question which is being dealt with by the technical organizations of the League of Nations may, a~ far as possible, be carried on in cooperation with these organiZations: and

Recommends that, if necessary, the council should authorize the technical organizations to cooperate in any action of general interest which the Pan American Congress may decide to take.

Mr. Reynald, France, expressed the entire concurrence of the French delegation in this proposal.

Resolution adopted.

ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES OF LEAGUE

Mr. de Palacios, Spain, reporting for first committee, submitted a resolution as follows:

The assembly, considering that it is desirable to modify as soon as possible the system of allocation of the expenses of the League of Nations among its members and to replace the scale of the Universal Postal Union now in force by a more just and equitable scale;

And considering that the scale annexed to the present resolution has been recognized by general consent as establishing a more just and equitable system for the allocation of said expenses, and that it is recognized to secure the immediate application of this scale as a provisional measure:

Approves the application of the above-mentioned scale for the allocation of the said expenses for the year 1923.

The assembly requests the council to ask the committee for the allocation of expenses, presided over by :Mr. Reveillaud, to continue its researches with a view . to preparing a definitive scale which may be submitted to a subsequent assembly. The assembly leaves it to the council to modify the composition of the committee as it thinks desirable.

It begs the council to notify the members of the League of Nations that it is no longer to continue the ratification of the amendments No. 2 and No. 3 of article 6, voted by the assembly of 1921, but on the . other hand to urge them to ratify the first amendment as soon as possible.

SCALE FOR ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES FOR 1923 UNDER ABOVE RESOLUTION

Albania, 1 unit; Argentina (subject to observation by Argentine Government), , 35 units; Australia, 26; Austria, 1; Belgium, 15; Bolivia, 5; Brazil, 35; British Empire, 95; Bulgaria, 7; Canada, 35; Chile, 15; China, 65; Colombia, 7; Costa Rica, 1; Cuba, 9; Czechoslovakia, 35; Denmark, 12: Estonia, 3; Finland, 10; France, 78; Greece, 10; Guatemala, 1; Haiti, 2; Honduras, 1; Hungary, 4; India, 65, Italy, 61; Jjiopan, 73; Latvia, 3; Liberia, 1; Lithuania, 4; Luxemburg, 1; Netherlands, 20; New Zealand, 10; Nicaragua, 1; Norway, 11; Panama, 1; Paraguay, 1; Persia, 6; Peru, 10; Poland, 25; Portugal, 10; Rumania, 31; Salvador, 1; SerbCroat-Slovene State, 26; Siam, 10; South Africa, 15; Spain, 40; Sweden, 18; Switzerland, 15; Uruguay, 7; Venezuela, 5. Mr. Van Eysinga, Netherlands, announced the support of the resolution by the Netherlands delegation because it would assist the league in overcoming its financial difficulties, and urged each delegation to endeavor by all possible means to persuade its government to follow the new scale. He proposed, he continued, to strengthen the resolution by offering · as a substitute for the words "Considering that it is desirable," the words "Considering that the financial requirements of the League of Nations render it imperatively necessary," and so forth.

Mr. de Torriente, Cuba, announced that he would not vote; because his government had instructed him not to accept this year an increase in Cuba's contribution, but that he would ask his government to reconsider this action i! possible.

Resolution, as modified by Mr. Espingo's amendment, adopted.

ELECTION OF NONPERMANENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

Under rules of procedure adopted at a previous meeting the assembly proceeded to elect the nonpermanent members of the council.

The president appointed Prince Arfa-Ed-Dowleh, Persia; Doctor Pusta, Estonia; and Mr. Urrutea, Colombia, to act as tellers.

The vote was taken by roll call and secret ballot, and the secretary general proceeded to count the votes.

The president announced the result as follows:

States voting: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, British Empire, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Persia, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Serb-CroatSlovene State, Siam, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

States absent: Argentine Republic, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru, and Salvador.

Number of votes cast, 46.

Absolute majority required, 24.

Votes obtained by states were as follows: Brazil, 42; Spain, 40; Uruguay, 40; Belgium, 36; Sweden, 35; China, 27; Serb-CroatSlovene State, 15; Portugal, 12; Persia, 9; Colombia, 5; Switzerland, 3; India, 2; Norway, 2; Denmark, 1; Czechoslovakia, 1; Haiti, was based. 1; Chile, 1; Siam, 1; Netherlands, 1; Rumania, 1; and Austria, 1. The president announced that Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, Belgium, Sweden, and China, having obtained an absolute majority of votes required, had been elected nonpermanent members of the council.

Twenty-fifth meeting, Saturday, September 30, 1922, 3 p. m.

FINANCIAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIA-STATEMENT BY LORD BALFOUR ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL

The president announced that the council, which had been studying the Austrian question during the last few days, desire to report to the assembly on this subject through its reporter, Lord Balfour, and that, after Lord Balfour's address, the Austrian delegate would be requested to speak.

Lord Balfour said the Austrian problem had not been entirely solved, but much was being accomplished; that the present was not the first effort the league had made at the invitation of the powers to assist Austria; that the essential part of the first scheme wa,s the release of liens held by a large number of nations, and these were so slowly released that when the last was lifted it was too late, the economic condition of Austria having sunk so low that when the league was asked a second time to intervene, the task was inevitably harder and more complicated.

He asserted that if Austria was to secure the needed credit, other nations must guarantee it; that the council and subcommittee of the council on Austria were agreed on that; that four nations had each agreed to take 20 per cent of the total loan required to enable Austria to pay her way during the two years which the council's financial advisers held must elapse before she could balance her budget, the total amount needed being something over 500,000,000 gold crowns; that he had great hope that nations could be found to take the 20 per cent still unsubscribed; that the method in view was the supply of the money by individual lenders, the subscribing nations guaranteeing payment.

He then explained that internal reforms must be brought about if the loans were to be had; that large sums had been contributed to Austria during the last two disastrous years, but they had under the existing system no more than sufficed to enable Austria to get along, somehow or another from day to day; that these contributions did not contain i~ themselves a single element of permanence and helped in no way to build a permanent credit basis for Austria.

Mr. Pouilly-Dietricbstein, Austria, expressed the gratitude of Austria to the league, and . especially to the members of be 1ts goal. the council, for having undertaken this task, which he sincerely trusted would be successful. He also thanked the nations which had already agreed to guarantee the greater part of the proposed loan, naming Belgium as one of the additional nations which he had learned would take the remainder of the loan, and thanking her also. He said he had hoped the transaction could have been completed while the assembly was in session, but this was not practicable. Lord Cecil asked, that if the project failed would there be a full, public statement of all the negotiations. Lord Balfour said he could not believe failure possible, but, if it came, all the documents and facts would be made public; that the present plan consisted in the main of providing the guaranteed loan; of seeing that it was properly expended in Austria and in cooperation with the Austrian Government; of insuring that it should only be expended in Austria if, accompanying the expenditure, those great reforms were carried into effect, which were absolutely necessary to Austria's recovery; that Austrian sovereignty was to be in no way impaired; that when the plan was completed all the documents connected with the negotiations and the entire transaction would be laid before a public meeting of the council; that with the plan in operation there was no reason why Austria should not recover; that the benefits of the plan would reach Europe and the world, and its success would be an answer to the charge that the league could not deal with the economic affairs of the world; that there was not the least desire or intention of keeping back from the league or the public all the details and all the data on which the council's work in the Austrian matter Mr. Bourgeois, France, said that the council in dealing with the Austrian question had applied the highest and best principles, principles underlying the league, and asked that the meeting end with a demonstration of confidence and faith. He was greeted with loud and prolonged applause.

In. closing this, the last meeting of the third assembly, the president, Mr: Edwards, said, among other things, that he thanked Switzerland not only for what she had done for the league but for the living example she offered to the world of a close union which could be attained by a common ideal, even though there was no community of race of religion, or of language. He thanked both Switzerland and Geneva for hospitalities extended. He said that the league was growing day by day, obtaining increased prestige and influence, and winning the confidence of the peoples; that in the first year of its existence the league was composed only of the countries which had been Allies or neutrals in the Great War; that now there were but two of the former enemies of the Allies that had not asked for admission; that every country that had wished to join was now a member· that the doctrine proclaimed by the Argentine Republic at the first assembly, the doctrine of the universality of the league, was being consecrated by the facts that, on account of the close fraternal relations between his country and Argentina, he witnessed with satisfaction the virtual triumph of the Argentine doctrine that would mark an epoch in the history and development of the league.

He pointed out that the third assembly had developed the master thought of the covenant, which sought the peace of nations by every possible avenue, by offering to states the procedure of conciliation, a new mechanism, suggested by the Scandinavian nations, impregnated with the basic idea that the league is not a superstate but a center where all the good will alld the peaceful desires of all nations can converge and meet. He referred to the admission of Hungary to the league as one of the happy events of - the third assembly.

He concluded with these words:

Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the third milestone in the journey of our institution. We have nothing with which to reproach ourselves, much to be proud of, and still more to expect. Let us have faith in the destinies of the league, because all that is great, all that seeks the good of mankind and tends toward perfection is imperishable. The origin of humanity is divine, and its end m the beyond is divine also. Perfection, therefore, must When the whirlwind has passed-the hate-laden cyclone loosed over the world by the breath of the Great War-then will the aims and the mechanism of the covenant be more clearly perceived and the serene and limpid atmosphere in which the league has its being become more apparent. We shall see, too, the souls of an the nations of the earth inspired with the ideal of cooperation, yearning to be immortalized, like the souls of individuals-in faith, hope, and charity.

In another moment we shall have left this hall, and the charge with which you have honored me by electing me as your president will have come to an end. I can not depart without assuring you that to the gratitude which I feel for the great trust you have reposed in me is now added a strong sense of obligation for your indulgence. I beg you to pardon, ladies and gentlemen, the errors I may have committed in consideration of my great willingness for help. to serve you and my not less great desire to continue serving you wherever and whenever occasion may arise. I cease now to be your president, but all my life I wish to be your friend. [Loud and prolonged applause, the whole assembly rising to its feet.]

Ladies and gentlemen, I declare the third assembly of the League of Nations at an end.

During the delivery of Mr. SHEPPARD's speech-

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. President, will the Senator Yield?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield for a question.

Mr. LEWIS. It is evident to us all who are attentive in the Senate that the Senator from Texas is contributing literally a volume of history which, in its accuracy and detail, indicating such vast research, will hereafter be referred to as a book of review and reference. But I beg to inform him that when, something like two years ago, I was in Palestine, there was a movement on the part of Britain, as published, to withdraw that provision which gave to each of the Jewish assemblages, wherever they came from, the right to choose their own citizenship.

I may inform my eminent friend, who no doubt knows the fact, that President Wilson was responsible for that very wise provision which enabled the American Jew in that locality to continue his citizenship as an American. But, as I remarked a moment ago, a year and a half, perhaps two years ago, in Palestine a great commotion was created, to the point of actual riots, while I was present, regrettably having to witness such, because England threatened, through her officials then there, to withdraw the Balfour declaration, and to lay down the doctrine that those who were taking advantage of the document which the able Senator has so carefully compiled and presented should be citizens of Great Britain.

I would ask the Senator if he knows whether that has been changed, and whether they still adhere to the privilege which we had established of allowing Americans to remain ordered. as Americans, instead of making them citizens of Great Britain while living in Palestine.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I think they have been allowed to remain as Americans. I thank the Senator for his most I interesting contribution.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After speaking for some time-

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President--

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ScHUYLER in the chair). Does the Senator from Texas yield to the Senator from I New Hampshire?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield for a question.

Mr. MOSES. I ask the Senator whether he has now fully Mr. TYDINGS. discussed the Macedonian aspect of the problem?

MI'. SHEPPARD. I think so.

Mr. MOSES. If the Senator will permit me, the Senator's learned disquisition has so close a relation to a question now before the Senate that I wondered whether, in discussing the Macedonian question, he intended to discuss the details of the Bechtold proposals, the Mergsted program, the protocol of Cettigne, the Saloniki manifesto, and those other matters which intimately concern the activities of the comitadjis in Macedonia at the time of which the Senator is speaking; because of course in a discussion of this subject, if the Senator will permit me further, especially in relation to its intimacy with the question before the Senate, I hope the Senator will not fail to enlighten us with reference to some of these topics which I have suggested, since necessarily, in the course of my activities prior to coming into the Senate, I happened to have known something about some of these things which I have mentioned. But evidently the Senator can fill in the interstices in my information so completely that I hope he will not fail to do so as the discussion goes forward.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Macedonia is related to this question, because the drys have heard the cry from Macedonia.

Mr. MOSES. I never understood that it was from that group of the population that the cry went up to" come over into Macedonia and help us."

Mr. SHEPPARD. The women and children are calling th t th t f

Mr. MOSES. I thought a cry came up from quite another portion of the globe.

Mr. SHEPPARD. So it does; but it comes from every part of the globe where people want help in conquering evils.

Mr. MOSES. And it is still articulate?

Mr. SHEPPARD. It is still articulate. The Senator is familiar with the Macedonian problem by virtue of his having been a distinguished and an able Minister to Greece.

Mr. MOSES. I thank the Senator very much, because when I now have to take up the pen, I would like to have accurate information upon those topics as to which I am now somewhat deficient.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I am sure that the able manner in which the Senator conducted his mission to Greece has given him the interest which he has expressed in this phase of the discussion, . and I thank him for his suggestion.

Mr. MOSES. If I may be equally complimentary to the Senator from Texas, may I say that the research shown to have been made in the preparation of the address with which he is now regaling the Senate assures me that I will have complete and accurate information from him before the discussion is over.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I shall endeavor to supply that information.

During the delivery of Mr. SHEPPARD's speech-

Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President--

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. FEss in the chair). Does the Senator from Texas yield to the Senator from Maryland?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield; but I ask unanimous consent that all colloquies occurring in the course of my address be placed at the end of my speech.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so

Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President, I do not want to be offensive or rude to the Senator from Texas. May I point out, however, that we have only 16 legislative days left of this Congress; that there are 12,000,000 people out of employment, 5,000 banks have failed, there is economic chaos from one end of the Nation to the other, and as long as we take up these extraneous matters we can not do a thing for the distress of the country.

Mr. SHEPPARD. The country will also be frightfully injured if the liquor traffic is ever restored.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After having spoken for some timeMr. President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield to the Senator.

Mr. TYDINGS. I want to say preliminarily that no one concedes more than does the Senator from Maryland the sincerity and idealistic motives of the Senator from Texas. May I point out to him, however, that this is not a question of whether we shall have liquor or no. liquor. This is a question as to whether or not the American people have a right to pass upon the form of government under which they live. They can either adopt it or reject it; but the Senator from Texas, by the very long oration he is delivering-which has now gone on for an hour and a half an.d promises to go for at least another hour and a half-IS denying to the people of America the right to alter or amend the form of government under which they live.

Mr. SHEPPARD. This motion is a step toward the return of the liquor traffic. I am fighting it at every step, and I feel justified in doing so.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After having spoken for a few moments-

Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President, will the Senator yield before he goes on with the next table? Then I will not bother him any more.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield.

Mr. TYDINGS. I admit that the Senator is sincere and wishes to fight this motion; but may I again point out to him that he is fighting it at the expense of the institution we call the people; that they can not, notwithstanding they may want to do so, amend the Constitution because the Senator from Texas will not allow them the opportunity to pass upon it.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Mr. President, I am in favor of the people's rule. Ordinarily, I am in favor of the submission of any question when a substantial number of the people desire the question submitted. National prohibition, however, was adopted by the States in 1920, only 13 years ago. Powerful wet minorities have not permitted it to have a fair trial. That is why I am not in favor of submitting now the question of its repeal. It would be unfair to prohibition and to the people to submit the question at this time.

Mr. DILL. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a question before resuming his speech?

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield to the Senator from Washington?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield.

Mr. DILL. In the light of the fact that we are in the midst of what is probably the greatest panic in history, with great banks crashing and one State now with all of its banks cloS'ed, does not the Senator from Texas think it is the height of foolishness to take up a controversial question such as this, when it is going to take days of debate even to get the motion voted upon?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Certainly; and the Senator from Wisconsin ought to withdraw it. I shall stop speaking if he will withdraw it.

Mr. DILL. I am glad to know that the Senator has that spirit.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After speaking for some time--

Mr. BLAINE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. SHEPPARD. For a question.

Mr. BLAINE. So that I may a.sk unanimous consent?

Mr. SHEPPARD. No.

Mr. BLAINE. Then may I ask the Senator a question?

Mr. SHEPPARD. The Senator may ask me a question. M r · BLAINE · How 1 long does th e S ena t or think h e may continue with his debate on the pending motion?

Mr. SHEPPARD. That depends on how long the spirit moves me. I can not tell how long I may speak when I am under the inspiration of a sense of duty.

Mr. BLAINE. It may be indefinitely?

Mr. SHEPPARD. It might be indefinitely.

Mr. BLAINE. The senator does not anticipate concluding before o'clock?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I do not.

Mr. BLAINE. Or before 10 o'clock?

M SHEPPARD I d 0 t 1 'f I h ld t r. · no ; can ° ou ·