The Washington herald., 1920-11-15
Geneva Cay, But Absence
OF u. S. Casts Spell Of
Misgiving on Session.
PROGRAM Is IN PLIGHT
Confusion and Crowding
Mark Scenes Around Old
Meeting Place.
BY c. +. BERTELLi.

GENEVA, Nov. 1.-THE conference
Of the league of nations will open
mere tomorrow in an atmosphere
goggy with mutual mistrust and sus-
picion. despite the gay superficiali-
ties elaborated by the local reception
committee.
There is an intense embarrass-
ment on the part of all the delegates
owing to the general realization that
he absence of the United States
rom the conference makes the en-
tire meeting a farce.
There is no attempt to disguise the
tact that the assembly meeting Is
practically useless with the United
States missing.
Moreover, the smaller nations are
plainly impressed by the fact that
The present league is practically a
collaboration against America.
Original Plan Doomed
Under present conditions the
league of nations will be unable to
carry out the original program of
promoting peace and will degenerate
into an international commercial So
ciety for the protection of the inter-
ests of Europe And Japan as opposed
to those of the United States
While the majority Of the nations
are not as yet fully represented
here. most of the delegations already
have a few secretaries on the scene.
While owing to the extraordinary
confusion and disorganization among
the highly paid staf of the league
many other delegates have net even
secured rooms. Many are forced to
sleep IN corridors and in bathrooms
and on billiard tables.
Crude Place of Meeting.
The meeting tomorrow will be
held AZ 1910 o'clock In the nlqrnine {
tina a lsrge barn-fke residence, Whose
interior, with its spartan-like sim.
plicity, characterizing Swiss Fru.
gality, contrasts strongly with this
palatial headquarters of the league
fitted up without regard to expense
The paramount question of tn.
absence of the United States win of.
fcially be raised by the Scandinav-
ian States in joint memorandum
to the league of nations. This men,
orandum is expected to provoke ar
official demand to President-elect
Harding of the United States for ar
explicit definition of the policy Il
he pursued by America toward the
league of nations
Sweden and Norway positively
state that Article of the league of
nations covenant must read THE
League Council shall consist of rep
resentatives of the United States.
the British Empire, France, Italy
and Japan"
Demand on Austria. e..
Austria, according to the French
delegation, must countermand the
plebiscite which has been arranged
for spring to decide whether the
people OF Austria rrefer to remain
alone or Join Germany.
The problem of the reduction of
armament7wilf also be impossible of
solution by the conference because
Europe and Asia cannot disarm il
America does not join the league
and continues building a large feet.
Although the delegates of the
various nations are not willing to
be quoted before the opening of the
conference. it can be safely stated
that all would favor an official pro-
posal from America for the forma-
ton OF a new association of nations.
which would eliminate the faults of
the present league and be dra
Tor the sole purpose of maintaining
universal peace.