Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-16
j. S. OVERSHADOWS
LEAGUE ASSEMBLY
Interest in Arms Farley Turns
Geneva Body Into Mere
Debating Society
LATIN AMERICA MAY BOLT
By CLINTON w. GILBERT

Star Correspondent Evening Public ledger
COPYRIGHT. 1891, bv Public Ledger Company
Washington, Sept. 16.-The present
meeting Of the League of Nations at
Geneva is regarded here as showing
more signs of weakness than any pre-
vious meeting. The League is COM
pletely overshadowed by the coming
Far Eastern and disarmament confer
cnces at Washington.
On the larger international problems
such as disarmament, which was to be
one of its tasks, the League does not
function. South America, which has
boundary disputes Of its own, does not
take them to the League, being desirous
of waiting upon the leadership of this
country.
The greater nations which make up
the Council Of the League are more in
tcrestcd in co operation with the United
States in the Supreme Council and in
the coming conference here than they
are in the League. and in large meas
tries control its fate.
When the League met last this
country was definitely out Of intcrna-
tional affairs, but its position was
purely negative. The League had n
certain strength just because this
country was pursuing policy Of iso-
lhtion. Today all that is changed.
The United States has assumed posi-
tion Of leadership in world affairs.
Moving Toward Disarmament
It is moving toward disarmament.
It is seeking to establish new con-
cord in the Orient. 1t has entered into
co operation with the great powers OF
Europe in the Supreme Council. The
direction which international relations
take depends largely upon the United
States, and the United States has
definitely cut the League covenant out
of its treaty with Germany.
The result is that the Assembly OF
the League is left in the position of O
mere international debating society
while the real work of international or
ganization is proceeding elsewhere.
The small nations which are mem
bers of the Assembly are naturally de-
sirous Of maintaining the League. That
is evident in the debates at Geneva and
1t is a factor to be rcckoned with il
President Harding aims to set up 6
substitute association.
The real vitality of the present AS.
sembly consists of the support which
the small nations of Europe give to it
These nations feel that the covenant
as Mr.. Wilson caused it to be drafted
ut Paris. gives them more scope ant
authority than is likely to be theirs IN
any new association to be built around
the Supreme Council.
Latin Americ Holds the Key
The fate of the present League seems
to depend largely upon the attitude OF
the Latin American republics. If the
Latin American countries under our
leadership should desert the Assembly
that body would become practically an
organization of small European states
The greater European Powers would
be as they now are. more interested IN
the Supreme Council than in the Coun
Gil or Assembly of the League. TIL,
Assembly in that case would tend tC
diminish and Mr.. Harding's opportunit!
of erecting substitute for it would be
! improved.
The Latin American States arc
playing an uncertain part. At one
moment they seem about to give strength
to the League by referring their dis
putes to it, At another they are chary
of taking a position which is opposed
| to the United States and they decline tr
ask the arbtrament of the League.
They are playing n diplomatic game
They mean to make the best terms they
can with the United States when the
Administration comes to forming n new
association. Thus they stay on tn,
fence. neither definitely abandoning tn,
Geneva Assembly nor fully casting il
their lot with it.
At one time the Administration
feared that the Latin American coun
tries would cling to the League as {
means of escaping somewhat from tn,