The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-15
TOMORROW Is
FIRST LEAGUE
ANNIVERSARY
Has a Home Where General
Secretariat and Staff Of
Several Hundred
Work.
MEMBERSHIP DOUBLED
Has Established Commissions
and Settled Disputes
Returned 100000
Prisoners.

BY upied Pres.
GENEVA. Jan. l5.-The first birthday
anniversary Of the League Of Nations Is
Sunday. January 10. On that day year
ago the first meeting Of the Council was
held at Paris and the formal organiZatic n
Of the League effected The intervening
Twelve months have been much troubled
by echoes Of the great war and by the
levcrish efforts Of the world to reach some
sort OF new equilibrium. The handicap
thus placed on the first attempt at a
worldwide international organization has
been tremendous.
A year ago the League had twenty
three declared members. To-day il has
loriy-nine. Nicaragua and Honduras hay-
ing completed their rstiheations while
the foriy-one delegations comprising the
Assembly we're still in session at Geneva,
where six new members were granted
admission two Of them being former
enemy states.
THREE-FoURTHs IN LEAGUE
The present membership Of the League
represents an estimated total population
Of l,247 100000, to which can be added
another 100000 people living in man
dasory territories. Eleven more states,
with total population Of i44.000.000, have
applied for membership, leaving a total
Of only 36l,Oo0.OOO people wholly out
side
One year ago the League machinery
consisted of the Council and an incipi-
ent secretariat with insufficient temporary
quarters al London. Today the League
has home Of its own in this city, where
the staff Of the general secretariat, con-
sisiing Of several hundred people from a
score Of countries. occupies Us rooms,
while nearby building has eight more
rooms used for committee meetings and
as Offices for the various member states.
SIXTY TREATIES REGISTERED
About sixty international treaties have
been registered by a score Of nations
under the Covenant provision for open d.
plcmacy. Partly through the labOrs Of
the secre:ariat and partly through a
number Of international conferences held
under the auspices Of the League, most
If the subsidiary or auxiliary organiza-
lions prescribed by the Covenant have
been brought into existence. H
The .first steps have been taken toward
the creation Of permanent International
Court with extensive judicial powers.
The first official international labor or
ganizaiion has become a reality.
Permanent or provisional commissions
have been established to deal with the
problem Of disarmament; with the con-
troll Of authority granted to mandatory
powers; with the use Of the economic
blockade against violators Of the worlds
peace; with the reorganization Of the
worlds finances; with questions Of pub
lie health, and with the protection and
coordination of international commnni-
cations.
The League has provided a government
for the Saar territory and has engineered
the establishment Of Danzig as a free
city.
MAINTAINED TRUCE IN POLAND
Il has undertaken TO settle the dispute
between Sweden and Finland about the
Aalsnd Islands. and il has managed in
the face Of great difficulties 10 maintain
trace between Poland and Liihuania
that gives hope of a peaceful settlement.
Il is now gathering an armed inter
national force drawn from eight coun-
tries 10 police the Wilma district while
civil commission Of its appointment sup
crvises plebisciie to determine the final
disposal Of that region.
With the assistance of the League and
under its direction, more, than 100000
war prisoners have been restored TO their
native countries, some Of them being
brought halfway around the world.
A systematic campaign has been in
augeraied against the epidemics ravag-
ing Central Europe.