The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-18

Geneva, April 1S.-An outline of the
work to be undertaken by the various
commissions Of the League of Nations
this summer has been prepared by Ar
thur Sweetser Of the Secretariat of
the League. Preparations for this work
were made at the last meeting OF the
council of the league which ended in
Paris, March 4.
Mr.. Sweetser points out in his fore
cast of the seasons work of the league
that the situation affecting the man
dates over about 1900 900 Of backward
peoples will again be brought up for
discussion at the next meeting of the
council in May.
Hope is expressed by the representa-
tive of the secretariat that the United
States will be represented at this meet
ing 1t will be recalled that the coun-
Gil at its meeting in February and
March was discussing the mandates
when it received a note from the Unit
ed States government asserting that the
United States must be consulted or
any question relating to the mandates,
protesting against the ALLEGATION to ia
pan Vi AiAt lSltllAh Va - Ab anu Ailt peAi''
German islands in the North Pacific
and claiming equal commercial opportu-
nifty in the Mesopotamian oil region,
assigned to Great Britain under a man
date. In pointing out the desirablity
that the United states should be rep
resented at the next meeting of the
council to consider these subjects, Mr.
Sweetser says:
Not only are the members of the
council really sincere in believing that
"a question so difficult as this can very
much better be handled by personal
conversation than by the exchange of
notes, but there is every reason to be-
lieve that it would be far easier for
them to meet the American viewpoint
in this way than it would be if negotia-
tions were continued by cable.
Participation in this discussion,
would not of course, affect Americas
relation to the league in any way or
involve America in membership in the
league, but would be resorted to simply
as the most direct and effective method
Of protecting American rights and in
crests in a question over which it is
obvious that the league has been given
authority"
The disarmament commission, headed
by the former Premier Viviani Of
France, Fisher of Great Britain and
the former Premier Orlando, of Italy,
vii begin its labors shortly. Com
menting thereon, Mr. Sweetser says:
In view of the foundations already
laid by the different elements of the
league, it would seem difficult TO ini
tiate any productive disarmament plans
outside the league except the single
question of naval reduction which de-
pends very largely, of course, on the
United States.
Mr. Sweetser points out that the
disarmament commission is one Of the
strongest bodies yet brought together
by the league in that it is representa-
tive not only of the more important
nations, members of the league but
also includes experts in economies, fi-
nance. labor, politics and military sub
jects from the various organizations al
ready under the aegis Of the league,
such as the international labor office
the economic and financial commission
and the permanent military, naval and
air commission.
In this connection, Mr.. Sweetser
says that the League of Nations has is
sued a strong appeal to all governments
10 ratify the Treaty of st. Germaln
which was drawn up to prevent the
dumping in more backward parts Of
the world of the large stocks of war
material now held in the beligerent
countries. He adds:
Under this agreement all such traf-
fic was to be regulated by the League
OF Nations but up to the present, owing
largely to the failure Of the United
States to take action in the matter the
other interested governments have
been unwilling 10 ratify the conven-
ton for fear of handicapping their own
nationals in a trade which remained
open to American firms"
The commission on amendments to
the covenant OF the league is required
10 make a report to that body before
June /, next. Mr.. Sweetser asserts
that II Is recognized in many quarters
that this commission Served as
league pillar TO any bridge which might
be built between the league and the
United States" The commission, he
says is well qualified TO enter into
discussion with the United States in
case President Harding secs fit 10 at.
tempt to adapt the existing league to
his own ideas for an Association OF
Nations. \. j. Balfour. of Great Brit
ain. is president Of the covenant COM
mission. Mr.. Sweetser says that the
amendments thus far presented are eX-
fepcioug ~ tha goVappnt ratha, than