The New York herald., 1920-01-26
LONDON LOSES
HOPE OF LEAGUE
Saturday Review Sees Deteri-
Grafton to Clearing House
for ShopkeeperS.
SCAPEGOAT FOR FOLLlES
Bitter Article Declares Entrance OF
Japan Would Force America
Into Agreement.
SCAPEGOAT FOR FOLLlES
Special Gable to the Herald }

LONDON, Sunday.-'Unless we are 10
see a change of heart and policy in It's
members the League of Nations will be
nothing more than clearing house of in
ternatonal information and a source OF
profit to the shopkeepers of Geneva" is
the terse way in which the Saturday Re-
view depicts the present valuation of the
league here.
There are editors in London who do
not even know where the headquarters
of the league are situated oluntly de-
ciares the Review. which sees South
America striving 10 break away from the
domination of the Emitted States by cleav-
ing TO the war born world covenant.
The league at first glance. the Re-
view says, is endowen with vast powers
regulating armaments. using force to pre-
vent any action against the covenant.
but 1t continues
The Importance of the duties assigned
to the league seems to Indicate a strone
faith in its future on the part of the
POWERS. who put upon it many heavy re-
sponsibilities. But to assume that the
peace conference intrusted the league
OF Nations with serious practical func-
tons because they believed the league
is to ignore the whole process and prin-
ciple OF treaty making as practised in
Paris.
1T may be assumed usually that when
the League of Nations is mentioned in the
treaty OF Versailles the plenipotentiaries
are postponing problem with which they
did not feel competent to deal.
Inc peace conference put the League
ot Nations in charge of Dantzig not be-
cause they believed the league was going
TO be great international power but be-
cause Premier Clemenceau and Premier
Lloyd George could not decide whether
Poland or Germany should have the city
II the league is to fulfill the intentions
OF the conference it will have to possess
more power and more wisdom than its
founders"
The indications for this are unfavorable
the Review adds. as the organizers of the
League in six months have failed to ed,1-
cate the people internationally 1t con.
tinues -
Even in the United States, where a
tactful, intelligent representative of the
league might have done invaluable work
not a single useful step has been taken.
The league organizers remained supinely
in London, maintaining communication
with second rate men in Washington who
are followers of discredlted Ministry
Dropping into an even more pessimistic
tone, the Review depicts the League of
Nations as formed by the Powers not so
much as the best solution for world prob
lens hut "as convenient method of
avoiding a solution"
1T will be fortunate If the league sue
ceeds in being more than a scapegoat for
the follies of the allied governm the
Review goes on to say. For the moment
it is body representing the allied and
associated Powers minus the United
States. and it's activities. so long as it re-
mains in this condition. are more likely to
hasten the next war than to avert it.''
Here is the way the Review looks upon
the pro-league enthusiasts in South
America
Even in Bolivia, where German inter-
ests are immensely strong, the treaty was
accepted enthusiastically, not because 1t
was a just settlement. but because Bolivia
looks to take her place on the interna-
tional council board. where she may face
the world not as an unprotected state of
the new world, but as an independent
member. with voice not necessarily
agreeing in full with the successors of
President Monroe
Unless Japan enters the league the Re-
view regards the entrance of the United
States as doubtful, but declares that
should Tokyo participate the hand of
America would be forced.
THE United States" it concludes. can
not hold aloof indefinitely from a success
ful international organization which in
cludes Japan and the South American
countries"