Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-21
Will Meet Allies and NeutraIs
Abroad on Plan for Stand
ardization.
COORDINATION IS SOUGHT

ouCn CLOSER dlllIldllOH VI 1eSo SAOSa'
societies is only one of numerous ex-
amples of various organizations which
are Tightening their international ties
in conformity with the world view
point brought about by the war ana
the needs of the postwar period.
1t becomes increasingly clear that.
whether there is a league of nations
or not, nations will be unofhclally
leagued together more closely than
ever before in the performance OF
much philanthropic and welfare
work, as well as along industrial and
economic lines.
Plans Cover Wide Range.
The instrumentalities by which such
international cooperation are being
worked out cover such wide ranges
as those represented by the move
ment to appoint Hoover as head OF
a sort OF international food distrib-
uting agency, that there be an inter
national conference of labor at which
the American Federation of Labor
should counsel with labor organiza-
tions of European countries, and that
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
lions be brought together more close
1y for International work, not only
along religious, but along welfare
lines. in which it has worked during
the war.
In connection with the coming Red
Cross conferences in Europe the in
teresting suggestion has been made
that the question of the disposal of
the German fleet could be solved by
turning the vessels over to the inter-
national Red Cross, and permitting
the Red Cross to salvage them and
use the proceeds in relief work. This
suggestion has been made to Red
Cross officials. Whether it will be con-
sidered seriously at the peace con-
ferences is not known here.
Dawson Endorses Views.
Though Mr.. Dawson. as head of the
out of existence as soon as problems
relating to the war are concluded.
would not assume to outline the flu
ture policies of the American Red
Cross, yet in respect to better
Standardization of the organizations
work and to bringing various ma
tional societies into closer co-opera-
ton. he would express the views of
the executive committee. headed by
William Howard Taft and enunciated
even before the war by Miss Mabel
Boardman, the executive secretary.
Though there is at present an in
ternational Red Cross committee, its
functions largely relate to calling con-
ferences every five years of the So
cieties of all nations. These societies
vary widely in their respective coun-
tries. and among them the American
Red Cross has been a leader in ex-
tending it's work to civilian relief, far
beyond the scope of the British So
ciety. for example, which still ad-
heres to the primary purpose of the
organization in nursing the sick and
wounded victims of war.
Attitude Toward Central Powers.
Germany. incidentally. before the
war. had developed it's Red Cross or
Ganizatfon to point where a large
amount of welfare work was carried
On throughout the empire, but when
the war broke out the German Red
Cross became virtually a part of the
Prussian war machine. One of the
future problems of the Red Cross
will be the question of how the Red
Cross societies of the central powers
are to be received by those of allied
nations.
Proposals for international labor
conferences still are hazy. but are
being pushed vigorously by labor
leaders in other countries. During the
war effort was made to have such a
conference. including Representatives
from the enemy countries. but Ameri-
can labor refused then to participate
in such meetings, because Of the pos
sibility of their becoming channels
for the diffusion of German propa-
ganda-
Neither are Samuel Gompers nor
other American labor leaders in the
least inclined to become a party to
gatherings of the radicals among the
European labor parties. representing
the so-called "internationalism" which
vik excuses in Russia just now. Bvt
labor men are considering seriously
ways of getting together on a closer
basis with the sane and lawful trades
union men of Europe for industrial
hetterment. but not for political pur-
poses
As to the 2. M. C. A.
The Y. NJ c. A. suggestions for in
ternationalizing their work came from
Sir Arthur Yapp, general secretary Of
the British Y. M. c. A, who was in
this country during the United States
war work campaign, in which the
" was one of the seven organiza-
lions represented Such a plan has a
deeper national import than might
be realized. il the present scope of the
international work carried on by the
association is not understood.
The association already has shown
itself to be a powerful factor for better
understanding among nations through
its work in far-away lands all over
the globe. During the war its secre-
taries penetrated Mesopotamia, the
countries where the Anglo-Saxon in
fiuence had been practically nil. Eff
forts are being made to continue this
work as a civilizing. educational and
industrial enterprise rather than
wholly along religious lines, and 1t is
with that In mind that Sir Arthur
Yapp suggested that England and the
United States sdeaa.d take the lead in
joining hands in the common enter
prise.
Sir Arthurs suggestion was that John
r Mott. head of the united war work
campaign. friend Of President Wilson,
member Of the United States commits
sion to Russia and a lifelong student
Of international affairs, head the new
combination. Already. as in the case
Of the Red Cross, there Is an interna-
tional Y. NJ c. A committee, but this
committee does little more than CO.
relate the foreign work in various coun-
tries. The foreign committee of the
American association already has score