The Washington herald., 1920-11-25

RAW SUPPLIES
SPLITSLEAGUE
Smaller Nations and War
Sufferers Lead IN the
Agitation.
BOLD LANGUAGE USED
u. S. and Canada Would
Oppose It-France and
Japan Undecided.
ny CARL w. ackERNAx.
SPECIAL csbis Disp.s.h Do
Ths waEhtngton Hsrnk.

SPECIAL csbis DiEp.t.h Do
Ths washinstsu Hsrsk.
GENEVA. Nov. 2l.-The question
of raw materials gives promise Of
developing into the bittcrest issue
before the league assembly.
Already brosched by a group Of
beiligerents whose resources hsvs
been sapped by the war. the oucs-
tion has crested a state of nervous
ness among the larger producers OF
raw materials lest too much insist
ence on an aitruistic Interpretation
of the present economic relations
between states should cause a re-
action among the rich nations and
SO impair the usefulness Of IN"
league in its immediate and neees-
sary task OF preventing war.
During the debate last Saturday.
Henri La Fontaine, Of Belgium the
leading internationaIist in the as-
sembly. proposed pooling the
worlds raw materials and was re-
piled to by canada's representative.
who warned the league TO lay aside
Dominion nor the United States
would ever brook such interfer-'
ence in their domestic affairs.
On Monday the discussion OF this
problem was carried to the COM
mittee room. where the language
was even bolder and. in the words
Of one of the British dominion dele
gates, not a little provocative But
the worlds poor relatives" who
make up the bulk OF Commission
No. 2. which handles the gnaicial
and economic questions. pursued
their scheme for a universal pool
OF raw products and warned the
delegates of the richer countries
thacthe league of nations would be
a fnoekery so long as monopolies
OF raw materials existed. sfNnor
THasnE whose influence In the 49,.
sernbfy Is considerable. Sc the ptvot
in this issue. leading the debate
against the protesting attitude OF
the delegates from the weaithier
members Of the league across the
seas.
THE division. not only in the
committee but upon the floor OF
the assembly. and consequently
within the council of the league. is
developing as follows: South A.
rica. Canada. Australia. England,
India. Rumania and the South
Americas are against the project
Of pooling the worlds raw mate
rials or even consideration OF the
idea in any form by the league.
Italy Leads NeutrsIs-
Italy. Belgium. a number OF neu-
trails and a host of the smaller bel
ligerent and newly created states
are In favor Of full and complete
and subseauent action as
regards equitable distribution of
raw materials.
Japan and France so far have re-
mained aloof on this question. the
latter laboring under the dithcult"
Of choosing between a grouo which
demands 4 share OF the worlds raw
products Of which her needs are ss
uiGent as any. or a group OF power
full producers ~ whose side France
considers herself a logical adherent
because Of hef foremost position as
a great iron producing nation.
Further Clashes Imminept.
Further clsshing over this vital
matter is expected. 1t Is evident the
suject is one which cannot CD ig-
nored. FIRST. because the primary
need of many OF the deague's MEM
bers is raw materials which. as they
claim, must be made accessible to
them If their participation in the
leagues work is TO be in the least
efiicacious and. secondly. because the
Brussels economic and financial con-
ference has made some explicit
recommendations in this respect,
which, II disregsrded. would nullify
all OF the labors OF that body.
Signor Tittoni's plea before the
league council also In Brussels in
October for common participation Of
the poo nations in the benefits Of the
worlds products, brought forth the
promise that the matter would be
considered by the Geneva assembly.
Raw materials are certain TO be-
come a thorn in the side OF the
league
Ccepyrifht, 1874, Pubic I.dr,r oe1