Evening star., 1920-02-29
-FOUR INFLUENCES
Working IN LEAGUE
international Body Is Going
Ahead Despite Absence
{ of United States.
ny PAUL SCOTT MOwRER.

CabIegram to The Star and the Chi
ca9o Daily News. Copyright, 1920.
PARIS, February 2S.-Are the pro-
visions of President Wilson and Col.
T. NJ House already beginning to b"
realized? Is the league of nations.
to found which they sacrificed so much
else in the peace negotiations. destined
indeed to become the salvation of
humanity? Who now in Europe would
venture to say no. For the league is
already in operation.
Despite the disappointment caused
by Americas prolonged abstention.
II not only exists. but is working. Its
council in the first session has salts
factorily elaborated stipulations for
the government of DanZig and the
Sarre basin. 1t plans in the near
future to make a great international
study of the worlds financial ills,
while doubtless one of its most i'm
portant immediate functions will be
the Interpretation of disputed points
in connection with the various treaties.
Labor Bureau Organized.
The international labor bureau.
which is affiliated with the league.
and which recently held it's second
meeting in London. is now fully or
EaniZed. under the direction of Albert
Thomas of France. Under it's aus
piceS an international SeamenS con-
ference will be held in Genoa, Italy.
on June Is. and a second interna-
tional labor conference is being plan
ned for the spring of 1921. The local
representative of the Polish govern
ment has secured vote on a motion
to make an exhaustive inquiry into
labor conditions in all European coun-
tries. and particularly Russia The
conseque nces of such study by such
body my be enormous. Up to the
present there is every reason 10 be-
1ieve that organized labor of the al
lied countries is eagerly supporting
the bureaus work.
While the league thus gradually
takes form it is possible to foresee
more clearly its general trend. More
than $4,000 articles have been writ
ten concerning it within a year in
Europe alone. and there is much con-
fusion in the popular mind. But this
much is clear
1t is not a SuperState. 1t is more
like a permanent association of civ
ilized nations for the study of hu
manity's political. social and eco
nomic problems with a view to
making recommendations for the
betterment of human existence. Its
internal organization, unprecedented
in international affairs, has been
aptly Hkened to that of great mod
ern business concern. the assembly
corresponding to meeting of the
shareholders, the council to the board
of directors and the permanent sec
retariat to the technical personnel.
In any case the league obviously
means business Some of its warmesl
supporters especially regret the alb
sence of America from it's councils
just now, for this is the formative
period.
Influences Mt Work.
Within the league four different in
fuences can be distinguished strug-
Cling for dominance:
l. The small states want the league
to become more economic and less
political They are particularly in
terested in securing a reduction of
their obligations in case of an armed
conflict
3 hTe British desire to endow the
league with a large altruistic policy
calculated to win popular enthusiasm
by not merely Judging conflicts, but
seeking to foresee and prevent them.
They particularly emphasize the edu-
cational side. The league of nations
union has already established $50 re-
gional propaganda groups in Eng