Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-26

out of the Near Eastern situation, as
seems not improbable, this service will
constitute the first one of world sig
n%ificance undertaken and accomplished
by that body. The League has been
SO much the subject Of partisan dis
cussion in the United States that it is
sometimes difficult for the American
people to think of it as a going con
Germ.
When the Treaty of Versailles was
up for ratification in the senate, the
League of Nations was the principal
bone Of contention. 1t resulted finally
in the defeat of the treaty and the
American people have dropped quite
naturally into the habit of thinking
that because the United States repudi-
ated the League, there is no League.
This is quite contrary to the fact.
The League of Nations is in business
and ~ an active element in interna-
tional affairs. True. it has no official
business with the United States be-
cause this country is not a memlnber.
but many other countries are and
there is plenty for the organization to
do. The Turkish controversy fura
nishes an opportunity to, perform a
really big task, if it is capable, but the
years between the present crisis and
the first establishment of the League
have not been idle.
The principal publicity which the
League of Nations has enjoyed this
side of the water. in the last two or
three years has been in connection
with conferences, most of which have
been abortive. The great gatherings at
Brussels and Genoa have beer par
/ SiOlJr rrInr tho a,cysooc ~ fhn r IA ~, a
These have failed to accomplish def
mite detectives. Meantime, however.
the League has been plugging away at
routine jobs and has been accomplish
ing them. Little publicity has attended
these exploits because they were for
the most part of local interest.
The purpose of the League is the
prevent international disputes from
simmering over a period of years and
eventually developing into war. Fol-
lowing is a brief outline of what has
been actually done in a quiet and bust
ness-like way in the last two or three
years:
What Has Been Done
The province of Upper Silesia pre-
scented problems of a veyed nature be-
cause OF conflicting aims of various
races and ~nationalities residing within
its borders. and especially because of
the rich natural products of the land.
The League has taken up this question
and in a series of conferences has set
tied amicably practically all the dis
puted points. A few minor matters re-
main under consideration, but are in
a fair way to settlement.
Iithuania and Poland, soon after
their erection as nations. got into a
boundary dispute and each challenged
the sovereignty of the other over Ger
tain territory. The league has been at
work on this and reports substantial
progress, hostile demonstrations hav-
ing ceased.
Albania complained to the league
that the Serb roat-Slovene formerly
Serbia was encroaching on her boun-
diaries. This negotiation has been in
progress for some time, a commission
of inquiry has been at work and a pro-
gram is being worked ont for the set
Element of the dispute. Meantime, hos
titles have ceased and the parties have
given evidence of being willing to await
the decision of the league.
The first case to be completely and
amicably settled by the league is that
relating to the Aaland islands. These
islands, located in Baltic waters. are OF
great strategic Importance and the
league undertook A negotiation provid-
ing for their naturalization and non
fertilization. 1t will be remembered
that the Island of H~eligoland. the great
German naval base which was not even
scratched during the war, was regard
ed by the allies as so grim a threat
that the Treaty of Versailles provid-
ed for it's demolition. The Aaland is
lands occupied d similar strategic pc
sition. Sweden had the control OF
them and the league undertook to re.
move the menace 1t succeeded in ar
ranging q convention which has beer
finally ratified by the principal Eu'
ropean powers and which is in effect
an agreement tor the non-fortlflcatioI
of the island.
The league has had under negotia
ton the problem of Armenia and o
resolving the mixed differences of thai
troubled section. The new troubles il
the Near East have embarrassed these
|. transactions seriously, but it is ex
pected that if the league gets into thu
whole Near East question, the Ar
menia matter can be worked out il
conjunction with the Turkish question
New Questions Taken Up
: A new question, taken up by The
league comparatively recently, relates
!. to Eastern Gaiicia. The league has in
vited the attention of the powers tt
, the Importance of settling the statue
/ of this territory and plans are afoo'
to hold conferences on the question
Another new question now in pro
, cess of diplomatic negotiation relate
to the province Of Eastern Carella
, Finland feels that soviet Russia ha:
: been ~encroaching on her sovereign.
in Eastern CarelIa and the matter ha
tcen referred to the league. The Bal
tic states, Latvia, L%ithuania, Els
, thonia and Poland, have nationalist
interests in this region and are hayin:
Il voice in the settlement.
The league of Nations has BEEF
continuously concerned with the GOV
eminent Of the Saar basin and ba:
, been proceeding with administrativ
work of a wide variety including tn
affairs of the Free City of Danzig, tn
, protection Of minorities and the adjudl
cation of minor boundary disputes.
A great technical organization ha
r been functioning steadily. gathering
and studying statistics of the yarlou
. nations of the world. These includ
| hydroelectric development and othe
. power, navigation Of the air and
, score of other subjects. .
The other great international bod
which the treaty of Versailles create
il the International Labor Office
, This is not an adjunct of the leagu
of Nations but a separate body main
. tanning q large staff at Geneva wit