Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-08
LEAGUE Of NATIONS,
FOURMONTHSOLD,
. BEGINS FUNCTIONS
Resume Of Work Accomplish
ed d-28 States Pledged
Against War.
BY DAVID LAwRENCE.


ganfzation is yet to be done. but that
plans for every branch Of the leagues
activity are fully under way.
Elihu Root. former Secretary OF
State, will sail soon for London to act
IN an advisory capacity when the con-
stitutton of permanent court OF
international justice is drawn up for
submission to the assembly of the
league at q later meeting this year
Senator Knox in his recent speech ad-
vocated such a court and so have other
leading republicans. It was provided
for in the covenant of the league
and Is now to be established by con-
ference of the most eminent jutists
OF all countries on June l at London.
The International court will handle
all judicial questions. all disputes be-
tween nations which are matters OF
law. as apart from political questions
But even political controversies
between nations often involve a ques-
tion Of law or facts, and it will be
sembly Of the league of nations
where political problems will be con-
sfdered always to refer question
Of law or fact to the international
court for a judgment or opinion.
Importance Conferences Ahead.
Besides the meeting at London to
create an international court of JUS
tice, three other international confer
ences are to be held under the aus
pices Of the league OF nations. The
financial conference at Brussels May
Is has already attracted the atten.
ton of the economic world. ant
June Is there viii be q seamen'e labor
conference: Affecting shlpping, Rul
Immediate future 10 the session Of tn,
| council Of tho league to be held al
Rome on My II.
Plans viii be approved at thai
| meeting for the admission OF new
states, for the convening Of the as.
manent armaments commission and
the registration. OF all new treaties
between members Of the league
Other questions will be taken up
such as central European relief and
the budget of the league, but It is
viii be required to register at this
meeting any treaties or agreements
they may have made with each other.
This is the first step in the era OF
publicity or open diplomacy on the
matter Of treaties. Indeed. the pro-
the twenty-eight nations which are
members. These include Japan. Great
Britain. France. Italy. Belgium. Bo-
liyia, Brazil. Czechoslovakia, Poland.
Peru, Panama, Siam, Uruguay, Liberia
and Guatemala-all Of whom were In
the war or signed the treaty Of Yer
neutral, but have Joined the league.
such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia.
Denmark, Netherlands. Norway, Vene-
zuela. Paraguay. Persia, Salvador.
Spain. Sweden and Switzerland.
2S Pledged Against War.
The meaning Of the foregoing MEM
bership list can best be understood
when It is considered that every one
Of those twenty-etght nations, includ-
ing. for instance. Japan. is absolutely
pledged not to make war without first
allowing nine months for investigation
or arbitration or the consideration of
their disputes by the council or as
sembly Of the league OF nations. None
Of these nations can now go to war
with each other or with other powers
on the spur Of the moment without
invoking tho possible ill-will or even
military force Of all the other powers.
The making Of war Is not prohibited
after the nine-month period has
elapsed. nor would military interven-
tion be considered during that period
II both parties agreed to submit their
case to inquiry or arbitration. But
for all practical purposes the hands
of twenty-eight nations have been
tied for a nine-month cooling-off
period.
Only eleven states have signed the
treaty Of Versailles. but have not rat
ified it and SO are not members Of
the league. These include the
United States. Cuba. Ecuador. Greece.
Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua. Portugal,
Rumania, Hedjaz and the new .Jugo-
slav state.
China abstained from signing the
league by ratifying the Austrian
treaty, which contains the covenant
of the league. Four other states
San Marino. Luxembourg. Georgia and
Iceland-were not mentioned in the
original covenant, but have asked to
has never been asked to join.
What League Has Done.
Concretely, the different meetings
of the council have accomplished
these things:
January 15-Organized the council
and appointed the Saar basin frontier
commission.
February 11-Admitted Switzerland,
adopted rules of procedure for the
council. appointed the Saar basin gov
CATION offered in the Polish treaty
Tor the protection Of minorities. ap-
proved plans for the organization Of
the permanent court Of international
iustice, for the freedom of communi-
cation and transit and for the inter-
national health Office and summoned
the international financial conference.
March 13-Approved plans for send
ing a league commission OF inquiry
to Russia, and took first steps for the
Of typhus in Poland.
April 9-Answered request of su-
preme council that the league take
mandate In Armenia with the state
ment that 1t would assume general
oversight for the time being.
Tho next meeting at Rome will fol-
low the program already set forth ir
the beginning of this dispatch. The
budget will be apportioned among the
members. The total cost
Of the league thus far is about $780,
600 and the sum Of $2.500.000 Is re-
ouired for the next fiscal year. When
divided by twenty-eight this Is an in
significant sum a. government ex-
penses go, and . relatively small sum
to pay In an effort to keep the world
at peace.
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