NOTES ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FROM MAY 10 TO JUNE 10
Prepared by Allan Westcott, Professor, U. S. Naval Academy
GERMANY AND ALLIED POWERS
German Reparations Payments.—Complying with the terms of the Allied ultimatum of May 5, Germany on May 30 completed her initial reparations payment of one billion gold marks by turning over to the Reparations Commission in Paris the equivalent of 160 million gold marks in currency, and presenting German treasury bonds for the remainder. These bonds were twenty in number, each for about $10,000,000, and maturing within three months. The first two were paid as they fell due early in June. Germany's plan of taxation to cover reparations payments includes mortgages on 20% of all real estate at pre war value, and also a 20% government share in all business enterprises.
Wirth Cabinet Organized.—Following his appointment as head of the German Cabinet at the time of the reparations crisis in early May, Chancellor Wirth encountered difficulty in filling portfolios and securing parliamentary support. For the time being, he assumed the post of foreign minister. On June 5 the Reichstag gave a vote of confidence of 213 to 77 (48 of the German People's Party not voting.) The majority came from the three parties composing the government coalition—Centrists, Majority Socialists, and Democrats—supported also by the Independent Socialists. Without votes from the parties of either the right or the left wing, the three-party coalition hardly supplied a safe working majority.
Trials of War Offenders at Leipsic.—Trials of Germans accused of crimes against established laws and customs of war, as called for by the Versailles Treaty, began at Leipsic in June. Three of the accused were convicted and given varying sentences. Lieut. Neumann was acquitted on the charge of sinking a British hospital ship, on the ground that he was obeying the orders of his superiors.
ALLIED CONTROL IN SILESIA
Neutral Zone Established.—As a means of stopping hostilities in Silesia, France and Great Britain in early June agreed upon the policy of establishing a neutral zone between the parts of Silesian territory occupied respectively by German and Polish irregular forces, the neutral zone to be held by British and French troops. No final allotment of the disputed districts was to be made until hostilities ceased. In execution of this policy, British troops were despatched to Silesia, the first detachments arriving about June 1.
Speaking in parliament on May 13, Premier Lloyd George declared himself strongly for "fair play" toward Germany in the Silesian difficulty, saying that either Allied troops should be used to prevent the Poles from unwarranted seizure of territory, or the Germans should be allowed to defend themselves. He held Poland responsible for the activities of irregulars under General Korfanty.
Premier Briand, defending his foreign policies in the French Chamber, received on May 26 a favorable vote of 403 to 163. The French premier opposed the British plan for an immediate meeting of the Supreme Council at Boulogne to discuss Silesia. Instead it was decided that the authority of the Inter-allied Commission should first be reestablished in the territory under dispute, and an additional commission appointed to settle boundaries. On May 28 an armistice was negotiated between the German and Polish factions.
America Refuses Intervention.—To a long appeal from Poland for American assistance in the Silesian affair, Secretary Hughes on May 18 made public the following answer:
In reply I have the honor to inform you that, in my opinion, the settlement of such boundary disputes as arise in the case under consideration is a matter of European concern, in which, in accord with the traditional policy of the United States, this government should not become involved. The attitude of the government in this matter is clearly understood by its representatives in Europe, who will, therefore, as far as at present may be seen, take no part in the discussions concerning Upper Silesia, and will express no opinion as to the settlement.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Col. Harvey Condemns League.—In a speech at a dinner in his honor given by the Pilgrims on May 19 in London, Ambassador Harvey interpreted American foreign policy in a manner that attracted general attention. He declared that while, in the words of President Harding, the United States would "play its full part in joining the peoples of the world in pursuit of peace," it would not be "beguiled into the League of Nations." Col. Harvey announced at the same dinner that he had been authorized to attend the meeting of the Supreme Council, if one were held to discuss Silesia.
American Plan for a League.—According to press reports at the close of May the policy of the American Government was tending to favor an association of nations to be developed out of the present Supreme Council of the Allied Powers, supplemented by an international court of justice. It was stated also that informal inquiries regarding an international conference on reduction of armaments had already been made by Ambassador Harvey.
Program for League Council.—Geneva, June 6 (Associated Press).—Amendments to the covenant of the League of Nations, mandates, the Polish-Lithuanian dispute, settlement of the Aland Islands question, and the protests of Germany against the presence of French troops in the Sarre Basin and of Poland against the decisions of the High Commissioner in Danzig regarding the maintenance of Polish troops in the port will take up a great part of the approaching session of the Council of the League.
Dr. V. K. Wellington Koo of China will make a report on the Sarre administration, with special reference to Gergany's complaint concerning the use of French money to pay the miners, as well as the garrisoning by French troops.
Viscount Ishii of Japan will present a report on the terms of Class B mandates, and M. Hymans of Belgium will report on the Class A mandates. It is understood these reports will concern only the terms under which the mandates shall be exercised, and will not relate to the question of the allocation of the territories, including the Island of Yap, subject to mandates.
Arthur J. Balfour, Chairman of the Special Amendments Commission, will present its report on amendments to the covenant, with the draft of the notice to the forty-eight members of the League concerning the proposed amendments to be voted on at the September meeting of the Assembly of the League.
The Secretariat of the League of Nations has received from the Hungarian Charge at Berne a formal application for the admission of Hungary to the League. The application will be placed on the agenda of the Assembly, which will meet in September.—N. Y. Times, July 6, 1921.
Armament Commission Meeting Postponed.—The meeting of the Armament Commission of the League of Nations, scheduled to meet at Geneva on June 10, was postponed until July 10 and shifted to London.
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Results of Irish Elections.—The election to the Southern Parliament of Ireland, held on May 12, resulted in a complete victory for the Sinn Fein. There was no polling, since there were no opposition candidates. Of the 128 seats all but four (for Dublin University) were filled by Sinn. Feiners. Of the new members more than half are now imprisoned, and since none will take the oath of allegiance, the parliament will not function, and the viceroy must either organize a provisional government or put all Southern Ireland under martial law.
In Ulster the elections resulted in the choice of 40 Unionists, 6 Nationalists, and 6 Sinn Feiners. At the formal opening of the Northern Parliament on June 7 the Sinn Feiners and Nationalists did not appear. Premier Sir James Craig was first to take the oath of office; R. W. H. O'Neill was elected speaker. It was expected that King George, and possibly Premier Lloyd George, would be present at the state opening on June 21.
British Imperial Conference.—An Imperial Conference of Premiers of British Dominions and Colonies was scheduled to meet in London on June 22, the problems to be considered including naval support, the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, trade and political relations between the mother country and the dominions, and an imperial constitution. President Butler of Columbia was invited to address the conference.
AUSTRIA.
Plebiscites for Union With Germany.—An unofficial plebiscite held in the province of Salzburg on May 29 resulted in an almost unanimous vote in favor of union with Germany. An earlier plebiscite in Tyrol resulted similarly, and another was to be held in Styria on July 3. The Austrian Government objected to these plebiscites as certain to have an unfortunate effect upon Austria's relations with neighboring states and with the Allied Powers. Without credit and strength, however, the central government at Vienna could do little to check the "Anschluss" movement. On June 1 the Mayr Cabinet resigned.
Conference at Porto Rosa.—Washington, June 7.—The Inter-Allied Conference for the consideration of ways and means of improving economic conditions in Central and Southern Europe will be held at Porto Rosa on June 15, this government was officially informed today.
This meeting, originally set for April 15, was postponed because of difficulty in agreeing upon a program. Great Britain, France and Italy will be officially represented at the meeting, and several smaller powers more directly interested will probably send spokesmen.
It has been definitely decided that the United States will be represented unofficially at the conference by Lieut. Col. Clarence B. Smith, former American representative on the Austrian section of the Reparations Commission.—N. Y. Times, July 6, 1921.
ITALY
Giolitti Coalition Wins Election.—The parliamentary elections held in Italy on May 15 resulted in the choice of 226 members of the parties forming the coalition in support of Premier Giolitti. Of the total 535 members of the Italian parliament, the Socialists elected 134; Catholics, 102; Republicans, 8; followers of former premier Nitti, 15; Slavs, 6; and Germans, 4. The Slavs and Germans came from recently annexed territory. As a result of the elections the Socialists suffered a reduction from 170 to 134 seats. Numerous casualties were due to conflicts between Socialists and the patriotic organization of Fascisti.
NEAR EAST
British Policy in Turkey.—London, June 9.—A conference of Ministers was held at Chequers today on the situation which has arisen in the Near East.
The new facts are, that since the failure of the last Greek offensive against Kemal two months ago, his government at Angora has assumed a truculent and uncompromising hostility towards Great Britain. The Kemalists have closed down some mines belonging to British subjects in Anatolia, on the ground that they belong to "belligerent" subjects, thus designating the British as belligerents. Kemal's Government, also, has prohibited British ships from touching at Turkish ports, and they have refused to stand by their own agreement signed in London relating to prisoners, having even seized some further British subjects and shot a British Indian. The Kemalist Extremists also have thrown over both Bekir and Sami and the agreement he made with the French, and they have just refused to receive M. Franklin-Bouillon, who wished to go to Angora as the French Agent.
Whether the Extremists at Angora have absorbed Mustapha Kemal or whether he is leading them as before may be in doubt, but what is not in doubt is that his government is receiving arms and munitions from Bolsheviki in Russia and that in sympathy with Bolshevist counsels they are defying the Western powers.
The Greeks are now contemplating a new offensive in Anatolia, the issue of which, says The Chronicle's diplomatic correspondent, may be pregnant with results affecting Europe.
The correspondent points out that if the Greeks were defeated and driven back to Constantinople, where there are British troops, would be in danger, and if the Kemalists gained Constantinople not only would they close the straits and so rob the Allies of one object for which the war in , the East was waged, inflicting thus a deep wound on allied prestige in the Middle East, but they would without doubt proceed to attack Thrace and set the Balkans again in a blaze. It will be seen, therefore, how a situation may arise affecting closely British interests.
The British Government, although no fresh decision is called for at the moment, might, if the Kemalist hostility be persisted in, have to consider certain steps against the Kemalists. A blockade of Black Sea ports would cut off the supply of munitions to the Turks and the raising of the British embargo on the sale of arms and munitions would enable the Greeks to strengthen their forces. It may be anticipated, adds the correspondent, that no policy would be adopted which would involve this country in anything in the nature of a land campaign, but the pressure of events, might necessitate Britain giving indirect assistance to the Greeks.
New Greek Offensive Against Turks.—A new Greek offensive against, the Turkish Nationalists was planned for the third week in June. The Turkish forces were estimated at about 100,000, against which the Greeks could launch 120,000 men, with superior equipment secured from Great, Britain. King Constantine was to leave for the front on June 11.
FAR EAST
Japanese Foreign Policy.—Tokio, June 2 (Associated Press).—The Hochi Shimbun says to-day that it has reason to believe that Japan has proposed to give the United States the Yap-Guam cable, with the privilege of control of the line to the Island of Yap. While Japan intends to keep the mandate, the newspaper says, she considers this to be virtual internationalization.
The Parliamentary Committee of the Kensei-kai, or opposition party, published a statement to-day that Viscount Uchida, the Foreign Minister, in receiving the members of the committee yesterday, said that Japan did not claim the exclusion of Manchuria and Mongolia from the Chinese consortium, but had insisted on assurance of protection of Japan's: economic and general defense interests, to which the powers had consented. The committee asked what Japan would do if these claims were not granted. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the United States and Great Britain would observe the spirit of the agreement,
Asked if Japan should insist to the last on the Yap mandate and what was the government's policy, Viscount Uchida said:
"Of course, Japan will adhere to the mandate, but we are negotiating; with Washington concerning the disposition of the Yap cables."
He further said that the time for the evacuation of Siberia had not arrived.
"Is Japan endeavoring to have China open negotiations for the restoration of Shantung by adopting a new policy?" the Foreign Minister was asked.
"No," he replied. "No negotiations have been opened by the two governments."—N. Y. Times, March 6, 1921.
Reds in Vladivostok Overthrown.—At the close of May the Soviet' authorities in Vladivostok were overthrown by anti-red forces, the remnants of Kolchak's army. The anti-red forces afterward advanced towards Chita, in East Baikal, the seat of the Far Eastern Republic.
It was stated by Japan that her troops in Vladivostok maintained a neutral attitude, but the Japanese commander at Vladivostok announced that, in view of the situation developed, the Japanese would occupy various Siberian towns of strategic importance.
Following the fall of Vladivostok the Russian Foreign Minister, M. Tchitcherin, protested to the British and French Governments against the alleged un-neutral policy of Japan in Siberia. On June 9, Earl Curzon replied for the British Government, pointing out that the charges were not supported by evidence, and refusing further correspondence on the subject.
UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.
Treaty Proposals.—Mr. George T. Summerlin, American Charge d'Affaires in Mexico, on May 29 presented a memorandum to President Obregon containing the outlines of a proposed political and commercial treaty between the United States and Mexico. To this memorandum President Obregon made a preliminary reply on June 6, and later expressed objection to certain parts of the proposed treaty, on the ground that they involved a violation of the Mexican constitution.
Secretary Hughes on June 7 issued a statement of the relations between the United States and Mexico, reading in part as follows:
"The fundamental question which confronts the Government of the United States in considering its relations with Mexico is the safeguarding of property rights against confiscation. Mexico is free to adopt any policy which she pleases with respect to her public lands, but she is not free to destroy without compensation valid titles which have been obtained by American citizens under Mexican laws. A confiscatory policy strikes not only at the interests of particular individuals, but at the foundations of international intercourse, for it is only on the basis of the security of property, validly possessed under the laws existing at the time of its acquisition, that commercial transactions between the peoples of two countries and the conduct of activities in helpful co-operation are possible.
"This question should not be confused with any matter of personalities or of the recognition of any particular Administration. Whenever Mexico is ready to give assurances that she will perform her fundamental obligation in the protection both of persons and of rights of property validly acquired, there will be no obstacles to the most advantageous relations between the two peoples.
"This question is vital because of the provisions inserted in the Mexican constitution promulgated in 1917. If these provisions are to be put into effect retroactively, the properties of American citizens will be confiscated on a great scale. This would constitute an international wrong of the gravest character and this government could not submit to its accomplishment. If it be said that this wrong is not intended, and that the constitution of Mexico of 1917 will not be construed to permit, or enforced so as to effect, confiscation, then it is important that this should be made clear by guarantees in proper form. The provisions of the constitution and the executive decrees which have been formulated with confiscatory purposes make it obviously necessary that the purposes of Mexico should be definitely set forth.
"Accordingly this government has proposed a treaty of amity and commerce with Mexico, in which Mexico will agree to safeguard the rights of property which attached before the constitution of 1917 was promulgated."