New-York tribune., 1919-10-22
Great Britain, Belgium,
France, Italy and U. S.
Launch New Organiza-
tion at Atlantic City
Aim TO Cooperate
On Business Lines
Any Member Of League of
Nations TO Be Permit
ted TO Join New Body
Special Corrosrondcnce


ATLANTIC CITY. Oct. 21.-Thc
first world league OF business men was
horn in Atlantic City tonight. Five
nations-the United States, Great
Britain. France. Belgium and Italy
contributed their ideas for an economic
league Of nations. and tteir suggcs-
ticns were coordinatcd and adopted
by the committee Of the whole.
Admission to the new international
organization, which will aim to make
the voice Of commerce articulate every
where. will be limited to members of
the league of nations. Although the
United States Senate has not yet acted
on the treaty Of peace, the membership
clause was accepted without q dissent
ing voice from the American delegates.
In advocating the new body, M. florl-
mond Hankor, president Of the Belgian
mission to The international Trade Con
ference here, which was forced into
permanent organization by to-night's
action, SAID amid applause:
II sec nc reason why we should not
lay here the foundation for league of
nations, the purpose OF which for all
time viii be rcaping of every grow
ing harvest of peace by the advance
ment Of world wide commerce; by CO.
operation between nations to bring
about universal prosperity and the pro
motion Of those industries which make
for happy, iaw-abding, prosperous
people. and which just as surely will
mean the stamping out Of Bolshevsm
and kindred mcnaccs TO good govern
mont.
Field of League Broad
The idea of extending the functions
Of this new body into that part of the
field of politics and social life which
has bearing on industry, finance and
commerce was reiterated by other
stanch proponents, and was carried in
the report drawn up by a special COM
mttee of ten and adopted by the COM
mittee of the whole. The action of the
latter committee must be ratified by
the full conference, which will con-
veiIe tomorrow night, but this, accord
ing to members of the Chamber Of
Commerce Of the United States, under
being conducted, is a mere formality.
IN defining the objects OF the
Economic League the report specili-
caliy refers to social matters thus:
The aims of the league will be 80
create a permanent international head
quarters which will centralize all data
concerning economic subjects and So
cal conditions. the facts relating to
respective needs, present productions
and future possibilities Of each coun-
try"
Further Purposes Outlined
Furthr specific functions as out
lined in the first draft of the new
leagues constitution are:
"Io act as an instrument OF CO.
ordination (which will suggest regula-
tions ard Legislative measures to ia
ciltate and encourage the development
Of economic intercourse.
"To inform public opinion, through
publication OF facts concerning busi-
ness conditions and through diSscmna-
tion of the views Of technical experts
and business men.
"To put at the disposal Of all ofiicia
organizations the reports and conclu
sions prepared by the experts and busi.
ness men,"
The league. according TO the pur
pose of its founders, is TO be con
tinuously functioning BODY, active al
the year around. Each member natior
is to have two representatives on The
; board Of directors and one permanen
! ! rcsidcnt representative at the head
! quarter Of the organization.
Seat of League Uncertain
Where the seat Of the league viii be
is still in doubt Some of the Euro
pcans favor having it in the Unite
: States, on the ground that they vii!
, thus be better able to obtain trade
y information regarding this country, il
y which their intcres> at present is cen
. tered. For the came reason some o
the Americans favor placing the head
quarters in Europe. The suggestion
? has been made that the seat be locate
a in Geneva, provided that becoWes tn
n capital of the league of nations.
. Meetings, according to the plan, vii
u be held every two years, and mcmbc
y nations may send five delegates Th
| delegates will get instructions for vot
0 ing from the chambers Of commerce
:, comm @ rcial organizations banking as
d aociations and similar bodies which ar
admitted to membership as L unit un
g der the name Of the country ~ whic
q they arc situated.
t (Further dctaiis Of the economic CO..,
terence at Atlantic City Wil be fomn
:, on po0c seuenteen.)