The New York herald., 1920-12-26
Germany's Ability to Pay
Cannot Be Stretched Too
Far, Is Warming.
SECRECY ALSO OPPOSED
Scores Of Functionaries Little
Known to Fame Get Prince
ly Incomes.

| Copyright, 1920, by THE NEW. YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
| Paris, Dec. 16.
That the French press is beginning
to realize the burden of the League OF
Nations, at least from the financial
point of view. is shown in recent
article by NJ. Raymond Recouly in the
Paris Figaro wherein he reviews in
his customary brilliance Of style the
ease with which international diplo-
matists of the League of Nations
waste the public's money. His views
will undoubtedly coincide with the
opinion of many Americans who have
taken the time to study the leagues
organization from the standpoint of its
annual cost. NJ. Recouly said:
1--WE have often protested against
the waste OF public money and the
orgy of spending which is raging in
the majority of ministries and adj
ministrations. These disastrous habits
are n legacy of the war. But the war.
were it not an excuse, might even be
invoked as an extenuating circum-
stance were it not for the fact that
the war has been finished for more
than two years. Nevertheless the
waste continues
"a very remarkable report by NJ.
Noblemaire regarding the expenditures
of the League of Nations has given
lis a few figures which are specially
impressive and which surely merit
the closest attentionSof the public.
A Costly Institution.
zone might say of the League OF
Nations as -41sop said of the tongue
that IL Is capable of much good just
as 1t is capable of much evil. Its grav-
est fault lies in the fact that 1t, for
many questions. is too closely inter-
woven with the treaty of Versailles.
The realization of peace was one thing
the construction of a league of peoples
was another. The first was born of the
past and present: the second. above all.
concerns the future. Reason and COM
mon sense urge us not to confound the
two. But that was the great Idea, the
whm Of President Wilson: England,
finding material advantages in it, sus-
tanned il with all her force and secured
its adoption.
"Beneficent or otherwise, the League
OF Nations is going to be. in any case,
a most costly institution. Judge for
yourselfl It has at its head secie-
tary-general. Sir Eric Drummond, who
receives 10000 a year, which under
present exchange is not far from 600.-
900 francs. No ambassador. not even
OF the richest country in the world in
the most expensive capital Of the world.
attains anywhere near n salary so
royal. Let US note, by the way. that
one OF the articles of the pact stipulates
that the aforesaid secretary-general
shall be elected periodically by the
league. This article up to the present
has been absolutely disregarded. II is
to be hoped that It will he applied
shortly. For IL these high salaries are
| to be northumberland we arden.ty hope
! to the contrary-it is better that GER
tain rotation should be established In
order that such mama, in comparison
with which that of Moses was indeed
worthless, does not fall forever on the
same heads.
Many Fancy Salaries.
"Then come two under secretaries
general. each receiving $4,000. or more
than 100000 francs. then another under
secretary acting. on occasions. as secre-
tary-generaL This one, one OF our COM
patriots. NJ. Jean Mounet. is paid $4,000,
or nearly 100000 francs. l have not the
honor of NJ. Jean Mounets acquaintance.
1 am convinced that he Is a most dis
tinguished gentleman. whose merits can
not be small. Judging by the manner in
which they are compensated. But
neither his distinction nor his merits
would be In the least diminished II his
salary were reduced by half: II he
agreed to earn but 10000 francs n
wear. much aQ the best Datu OF
our ambassadors and two and half
times as much as our ministers.
Following this we find six dierctors
who are paid 100000 to $50, 900 francs /:
among these there are two Of our COM
patriots. one OF whom, before the war,
was a Journalist, the other a college
professor.
after the General staff come forty
eight members OF various commissions
political, administrative. judicial--wfth
average salaries OF from f1, 900 to Il 500
then a host OF more humble personages
who receive from $500 to $1,000.
I'VE have in France three Marshals
whose names and glory will dominate
history, who BY their military genius
have saved our country and civilization.
Well. there Is not the humblest scribe of
the League OF Nations whose salary is
not as high as those OF these illustrious
soldiers
II have reserved for the climax the
International Labor Bureau. which IS
dependence OF tho league. At its head.
and dominating by far all the rest. IA
/ It's director, NJ Albert Thomas, with a
salary OF f6.0O0--more than 100000
| francs. when NJ Albert Thomas, the
Socialist Deputy. works, you can see that
Il is not for nothingl