FROM NOVEMBER 2 TO DECEMBER 1
EUROPEAN SECURITY PROBLEMS
Renewed Conference on Arms Limitation.—As decided at the League of Nations Assembly in September, the Preparatory Commission for an Armament Limitation Conference met at Geneva on November 30. The meeting was given added significance by the fact that the Soviet Republic for the first time sent a delegation. The United States was represented by Hugh Wilson, our Minister to Switzerland. On the first day of the Conference the Soviet delegation came forward with a sweeping proposal for complete abolition of sea, land, and air forces within ten years. The Russian proposals were viewed favorably by Germany, both nations standing to gain in relative strength by the reductions proposed. It remained assured, however, that France and Great Britain, supported also by the United States, would insist that the scope of the present meeting be limited to the agenda, which provided only for the appointment of a special committee to take up security problems. Security, according to the French thesis, must precede disarmament.
Russia, Germany, Japan.—Prior to the Geneva Conference, M. Litvinoff, head of the Soviet delegation, on November 25 held an extended conversation with Foreign Minister Stresemann at Berlin. Afterward it was announced that the German and Soviet Governments would stand together for definite steps toward arms limitation, in opposition to the French idea of security first; and it was suggested that in this stand they expected support from some of the lesser powers. Earlier in the month Herr Stresemann had visited Vienna, one of the chief purposes of his visit being to secure Austrian aid in the Geneva Parley and in League activities in general.
Writing on November 28, J. W. Hall (Upton Close), a recognized authority in Far Eastern affairs, declared that there was a strong likelihood of Japan’s supporting Germany and Russia on the disarmament question, and that there was evidence of a Russo-Japanese rapprochement in other fields. He called attention to the approaching visit of Viscount Goto, former Japanese premier, to Moscow in December to work for an agreement between Japan, Russia, and Germany both in international politics and in the economic field.
Polisii-Litiiuanian Disturbance.— Probably as a gesture before the Geneva Conference, to manifest her role as a peacemaker and her significance in European affairs, the Soviet Government in mid-November sent a note to Poland which in effect warned her against hostilities with Lithuania. The note deplored the strained relations of the two countries, called attention to signs of “increasing disaccord,” and declared the belief that “preservation of the peace depended more on Poland than on Lithuania.”
The note was also an indication of Soviet opposition to Poland’s insistence that the League of Nations Council be taken as the final arbiter in the Polish-Lithuanian dispute over Vilna. The Council several years ago recognized Poland’s claim to Vilna, but Lithuania refused to accept the decision and has since declined to enter into diplomatic relations with the Warsaw Government. The question was scheduled for reconsideration at the League Council meeting in December and both Marshal Pilsudski and Premier Waldemaras of Lithuania planned to be present to present the rival claims.
Polish Reply to Soviet Note.—As a reply to the Soviet warning, Poland prepared a note which was handed on November 28 to the Soviet Government and to other powers. The note declared that Poland had no designs against Lithuanian territory or government, and that she had made every effort to resume normal relations with Lithuania but had been frustrated by the obstinate attitude of the Kovno Government.
UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
Mexican Oil Law Declared Unconstitutional.—By a unanimous verdict the Mexican Supreme Court on November 17 granted the appeal of the Mexican Petroleum Company, an American concern, restraining the Mexican Government from canceling its oil permits. The court declared unconstitutional because retroactive Sections 14 and 15 of the new oil law, the first of which substitutes fifty-year concessions for oil titles acquired before 1917, and the second of which declares forfeited titles of oil lands acquired after 1917, for which no applications for confirmatory titles were made within a year after the new law went into effect (January 1, 1927).
The decision, though applying only to the case before the court, gave promise of a series of rulings which would relieve the restrictions on American oil companies in Mexico and iron out the difficulties between the United States and Mexican Governments. According to Mexican procedure, however, a law becomes unconstitutional only after five adverse decisions of the Supreme Court, and even so the Mexican Government has declared that the court’s decisions “can never be obligatory upon the legislative powers.”
Gomez, Rebel Leader, Shot.—General Gomez, last to be taken of the prominent leaders in the recent Mexican rebellion, was captured and put to death on November 5. Gomez with a handful of followers had been in hiding in the mountains of Vera Cruz. A son of peasants of almost pure Indian stock, he was Obregon’s chief aid against Carranza, and under Calles commanded at the port of Vera Cruz.
UNITED STATES AND NEAR EAST
Trouble Over Nile Dam.—Some excitement was caused in England by a report early in November that the J. G. White Engineering Corporation of New York had been granted a concession for the construction of a $20,000,000 dam across the Blue Nile where it emerges from Lake Trana in Abyssinia. Such a dam is needed for the control of waters irrigating the cotton fields of Sudan and Egypt as well as in Abyssinia, but the treaty of 1902 between Great Britain and Abyssinia provides that no such work may be undertaken “except in agreement with the British Government.” Subsequently it appeared that the Abyssinian representative in the United States had not granted a contract and did not plan to do so without British approval, although for some time Abyssinia has been protesting to the League against British-Italian agreements covering water and rail privileges in her territory.
Americans to Share Mosul Oil.— After months of negotiations an agreement was announced on November 5 providing for division of oil development rights in the Mosul region of Iraq in equal shares to American, British, French, and Dutch companies. America’s twenty-five per cent interest will in turn be shared among five American companies. The original concession from Turkey was secured by the Turkish Petroleum Company, organized by C. S. Gulbenkian, an Armenian, who will take a five per cent royalty on all oil produced under the present arrangement.
Turkish Ambassador in Washington. —Resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Turkey was completed with the arrival in Washington on November 28 of Ahmed Moukhtar Bey, the recently appointed Turkish ambassador. The American envoy, Ambassador Joseph Grew, has for some time been at Angora, taking up the work of Rear Admiral Bristol. At the time of the Turkish representative’s arrival, there was some objection to his being received by our Government, on the ground that the Senate had rejected the Treaty of Lausanne with Turkey, and our relations with that country are carried on only under a modus vivendi. The State Department held, however, that the decision to send and receive representatives' was fully within the President’s power.
Changes in American Foreign Trade. —An article on Foreign Debts, in the November issue of the Foreign Policy Association Information Service, gives interesting figures showing the change of the United States from an agricultural to an industrial nation and the effect on our foreign trade. We now import more raw materials than we export, and export more manufactured goods than we import. Since our exports are chiefly manufactured goods, our foreign trade will not develop passively as in earlier days, but must depend on our securing markets abroad in competition with producers of other lands. Figures showing these changes follow:
| 1880 | 1910-14 | 1924 | 1926 |
Exports of raw materials and foodstuffs | 61% | 39% | 38% | 34% |
Exports of manufactured goods | 15% | 47% | 49% | 52% |
Imports of raw materials and foodstuffs | 35% | 46% | 46% | 53% |
Imports of manufactured goods | 46% | 42% | 39% | 29% |
American Schemes to End War.— With the United States taking a passive part in the Geneva Conference, American politicians came forward with various plans to promote world peace. Conspicuous among these was the plan of Senator Capper to introduce a resolution in Congress which would put that body on record as favoring treaties with France, and “other like-minded nations,” renouncing war and adopting arbitration instead. The treaties would define an “aggressor nation” as one that went to war after having agreed on arbitration, and would pledge the treaty powers not to support such a nation. Senator Borah thought it was useless to try to define an aggressor nation, and still favored “outlawing war.” President Coolidge in an interview on November 25 questioned whether there was any short cut to peace by outlawing war or otherwise, and called attention to constitutional difficulties in the way of such treaties, as well as the American policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations. However, he thought such treaties might be useful as declarations of policy.
FRANCE
Death of Sultan of Morocco.—Moulai Yusef, Sultan of Morocco, died of uremia at Fez on November 17. He was forty-six years old and had ruled sixteen years, remaining through this period completely loyal to the French protectorate. He was succeded by his third son, Mulai Mohammed Humada, a boy of fourteen, who was selected as best suited for the position.
Bandit Captives Ransomed.—Yves Steeg, nephew of the French Governor General of Morocco, another Frenchman, and two women companions, who were captured by Moroccan brigands about a month before, were ransomed at the end of November by payment of $400,000 in cash and a caravan load of gifts. Two captive children were released at the same time. The French Government is planning a punitive expedition into the region - where the bandits operate.
GREAT BRITAIN
Debate on Rules of Sea Warfare. (From New York Times, November 11).— London, November 10.—Lord Wester Wemyss, commander of the British Fleet in the Dardanelles and later First Sea Lord, urged in the House of Lords today that Great Britain give formal notice to the world of her intention to denounce the Declaration of Paris treaty of 1856 and assert her intention in any future wars to exercise her “ancient historic right,” given up then to search neutral ships at sea and confiscate merchandise destined to enemy countries.
It was a purely academic discussion, one of those brilliant, impotent debates which occasionally hold the floor of the British upper house and afford observers an insight into the Empire’s varied viewpoints on all manner of world questions.
Earl Stanhope, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, quickly assured Lord Wemyss that it was impossible to withdraw from the seventy-year obligation even if Britain wished to and he said he doubted the advantage of doing so.
The address of Lord Wemyss, a blunt outspoken expression of expert opinion on naval matters, is recognized here as the true view of the Admiralty apart from the civil side.
“Every Englishman knows in a general way that his safety and even the national existence depend entirely on the Navy,” said the Admiral, “but he has the vaguest idea of what a fleet does. Its chief power lies not in guns or torpedoes, but in the immemorial right of all belligerents to suppress entirely all sea-borne supplies of enemies on which the enemies’ continued resistance must depend.
“That right is ancient, historic and universally recognized as the law of nations. Command of the sea is essential, as this country without it cannot continue to wage war at all. The right to suppress enemies’ supplies is of greater importance to us than any one else.”
It was because Germany’s supplies were able to reach her via neutral countries, he went on, that the German Fleet was able to stay in port throughout the war and the British Fleet was unable to reach and destroy it.
“The inability of our navy to bring direct pressure on the German Fleet was a direct result of the Declaration of Paris,” he added.
He argued that the declaration was not a treaty, but merely a declaration of intent never ratified, and there was no reason, legal or moral, why any signatory might not end it. If Britain let her fleet exercise full power over enemies’ supplies in future wars there would be no need to raise great armies. It would secure Europe to a large degree against the prolongation and spreading of any military conflagration which broke out.
Only one other sentence was significant:
“No trader, of whatever nationality, but owes a debt to the British Fleet for the safety of his ventures at sea.”
Lord Stanhope immediately pointed out to Lord Wemyss that he only referred to one clause in the agreement. Part of the declaration prohibited privateering and another ruled that a blockade in order to be obligatory must be effective.
British Cut Cruiser Program.—The First Lord of the British Admiralty announced in the House of Commons on November 16 that only one of the three cruisers provided under the 1925 program would be laid down this year. He gave as the reason for this step the situation disclosed at the
Geneva Conference and the hope that the efforts which failed there might be renewed later with more success.
BALKAN STATES
Death of Rumanian Premier.—On November 24 Jon Bratiano, Premier and for sixteen years political dictator of Rumania, died suddenly at Bucharest from blood poisoning after an operation. He was buried simply on the family estate at Florica, Rumania. For the Liberal Party (really the conservative element in the country) his death came inopportunely, as he was in the midst of efforts to strengthen the present regency in Rumania against the followers of Carol, and to maintain his own ascendancy against the agitation of the Peasants’ Party for free elections and changes in the Regency Council.
Upon his death the Regency Council appointed his younger brother Vintila, former Minister of Finance, to succeed as premier, and Vintila also became head of the Liberal Party. There was some talk of a coalition cabinet, but the Peasant Party refused to take part.
Carolist Envoy Freed.—The court- martial in Rumania of M. Manoilescu, former under-secretary of finance, on charges of complicity in a Carolist plot ended in the acquital of the prisoner. In a long oration on November 11 M. Manoilescu declared that Prince Carol did not seek the throne but only a seat on the Regency Council. He referred to the Prince’s fear that Rumania was heading toward a republic. Following his acquital a new law was promulgated increasing the penalties for attempts to overthrow the present disposition of the throne.
Franco-Jugoslav Treaty Ratified.— Following its ratification by the Jugoslav Parliament, the text of the new security treaty between France and Jugoslavia was published on November 26. This corresponds with existing treaties made by France with Czechoslovakia and Rumania, except that its duration is for only five years. The main clauses provide that if either nation is attacked “the two governments will without delay agree on respective action to be exercised within the terms of the Covenant of the League of Nations, with a view towards safeguarding their legitimate national interests, and maintaining the order established by the treaties of which one or the other is signatory.” There are no specific promises of military aid, but the agreement aims to provide for common action against such changes in the status quo as a union of Germany and Austria or possible extension of Italian influence in the Balkans.
ITALY
Albanian Alliance Strengthened.— The ratification of the Franco-Jugoslav Treaty caused much agitation in Italy. By way of reply, although negotiations had already been completed, Italy and Albania on November 26 ratified a new treaty strengthening the previous treaty of alliance by making the pledges of cooperation reciprocal in case either nation is attacked. The former treaty only bound Italy to aid Albania. The present treaty extends for twenty years, and makes Albania practically an Italian protectorate.
Fascisti to Simplify Elections.—According to a reform proposal made by the Fascisti Grand Council on November 11, parliamentary elections in Italy will soon become merely a rubber stamp of approval on appointees of the Council. The thirteen great Fascisti economic corporations of crafts, professions, etc., will designate a certain number of candidates for the Chamber of Deputies. These will be approved by the Grand Council, who will eliminate and add names, and the list of 400 will then be submitted to the electorate, who will have no other candidates to vote for. The franchise will be limited to those who pay their syndicate dues. Political opposition, which Premier Mussolini has pronounced “stupid,” will cease to exist.
CHINA
Nanking Forces Control Hankow.— In the middle of November General Chang Sen-chi, an extreme radical leader who had for some time controlled Hankow, fled before the approach of forces sent against him from Nanking. There was some disorder during the shift of rule, but the foreign concessions did not suffer seriously. Observers of conditions in China held that the downfall of Chang showed the steady trend in China away from extreme communism, marked previously by the elimination of the Russian Borodin, of General Galens, the Russian military adviser, and of Eugene Chen, who has fled to Moscow.
Conferences at Nanking.—Several conferences of leaders of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) were held at Nanking during November, at the last of which, on November 24, December 2 was set as the date for the fourth plenary session of the party. Reports of the conferences appeared to indicate a weakening of the older, more radical group in the party, and growing ascendancy of the younger element led by Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Ching-wei. At the time General Chiang was in Shanghai and there appeared a prospect that he might resume command of the Nationalist military forces.
One result of the conferences was Jan unexpected declaration from Dr. C. C. Wu, Nanking Foreign Minister, denouncing all “unequal treaties” and declaring that “no treaty to which the Nationalist Government is not a party shall be deemed binding.” The declaration was regarded chiefly as a gesture on the part of Wu, intended to please discontented elements in the party.
Operations on Northern Front.—Although military operations of the Nationalists on the northern front were hampered by internal conflicts at Hankow and also at Canton, there were reports at the close of November of sweeping victories resulting in the expulsion of Northerners from Honan, Anwhei, and Kiangzu provinces.