Quick Council

Three of Europe's most distinguished statesmen rushed through the 58th session of the Council of the League of Nations last week with the haste of a trio of Babbits snatching a quick lunch. Drowsy old Aristide Briand, veteran French Foreign Minister, shambled out of The Hague Conference (see p. 25) to a wagonlit, woke up next morning in Paris, where he conversed for a half hour with "Ramsay MacDonald's Yes-Man," British Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson, sped him on his way to Geneva. Next day he boarded an-other wagonlit, woke up at Geneva. Waiting there was Signor Dino Grandi, spade-bearded Foreign Minister and closest friend of Dictator Benito Mussolini.

On the agenda of the League Council were 23 questions, all important, all as familiar as that notorious perennial: Is Vilna the Capital of Lithuania -- which it is according to the Lithuanian Constitution; or is it a Polish city -- which it is according to the Polish warriors who have held it since 1919?* After putting this agenda in the capable hands of underlings -- lesser statesmen such as Quinones de Leon of Spain -- for the customary debate, the Quick Lunchers prepared to entrain for the London Conference (see col. 2). Cor respondents facing a dire dearth of news cornered Mr. Henderson and chorused, "Come on, tell us how you came to be called 'Uncle Arthur!" "Certainly, gentlemen," said "R. M.'s Y. M.," beaming. "A long time ago one of the oldest members of the House of Com mons called me 'Uncle.' Others overheard him, and since then I have always been dubbed 'Uncle Arthur.' I don't mind. I consider it a term of endearment."

Statesman Henderson, who recently evolved the remarkable theory that "in the next war there can be no neutrals" (TIME, Dec. 23), added last week in reference to President Hoover: "I enjoyed meeting him in London during the War. He evolved wonderful humanitarian ideas, especially after the terrible things he saw during the War."

* As Wagon-Lits of the International Sleeping Car Company enter Lithuania the attendant in each car covers with a black cloth the map adjacent to the lavatory which shows Vilna to be in fact a part of Poland. He thus spares the feelings of Lithuanians, forestalls riots.

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