Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-26

WASN'T gton, Oct EFF the League
Of Nations IN succeeaful IN settling the
pcrplexing problems which have arisen
out OF the Near Eastern situation. as
soems not improbable, this service
Will Constitute tho first one OF world
significance undertaken and accom-
pllshed by that body. The League has
been so much the subject OF partisan
discussion In the United States that
It Is sometimes difficult for the Ameri-
can people to think Il IL an going
concern. When the Treaty Of Yer
sailles was up for ratification in the
Senate, the. League Of Nations was
the principal bono Of contention. II
resulted finally in the defeat of the
treaty and the American people have
dropped quito naturally into the habit
OF thinking that because the United
States repudiated the League, there
is no League.
This Is quite contrary TO the fact.
The League OF Nations Is IN business
and is an active element in interna-
tional affairs. True, II has no official
business with the United States be-
cause this country is not a member,
but many other countries are and
there is plenty for the organization
to do. The Turkish controversy furn-
ishes an opportunity to perform
really big task. II It is capable, but
the years between the present crisis
and tho first establishment of the
League have not been Idle.
The principal publicity which the
League Of Nations has enjoyed cn
this side of the water in the last two
or three years has been in connection
with conferences. most OF which have
been aborative. The great gatherings
at Brussels and Genoa have been par
italy under the auspices of the League,
These have failed to accomplish
definite obiecuves. Meantime. how
ever. tho League has been plugging
away at routine jobs and has been
accomplishing them. Little publicity
has attended these exploits because
they were for the most part of local
interest.
The purpose OF the League is TO
prevent international disputes from
| simmering over a period of years and
/ eventually developing into war. Fol-
| lowing Is a brief outline of what has
7 DCtla Ahh4Ay NQAlC III - VI 0AGN eiiAl btAsoa-
nesslike way in the last two or three
years:
What Has Been Done.
The province of Upper Silesia pre-
scented problems OF a vexed nature be-
cause of conflicting aims OF various
races and nationalities residing within
IT'S borders and especially because OF tbs
rich natural products OF the land. Tht
League has taken up this question
and in q series of conferences has
settled amicably practically all tbs
disputed points. \ few mincr matters
remain under consideration but ar,
in a fair way TO settlement.
Iithuania and Poland, soon afte1
their erection as nations got into ;
boundary dispute and each challenge,
the sovereignty cf the other over CO.
tain territory. The League has beei
at work on this and reports substar
tial progress. hostile demonstration
having ceased.
Albania complained 10 the Lea a.
that the Serb-Croat- -Slovene Stat
} (fcrmerly Serbla) was encroachinj
on her boundaries. This negotiation
has been in progress for some time
a commission Of inquiry has been a
work and program Is being worke,
out for the settlement of the dispute
: Meantime. hostilities have ceased an,
the parties have given evidence o
being willing to await the decision o
the League.
The first case to be completely ant
amicably settled by the League is tha
relating 20 the Aaland Islands. Thes
islands, located in Baltic waters. ar,
of great strategic Importance and tn
| League undertook a negotiation pro