The Washington herald., 1922-01-16

the league
/ In addition to the achievements mentioned. the
league has begun the work of suppressng the
opium trade. Zone remembers that. not SO long
ago, opponents OF the league insisted that the
league going into the opium businessD The
league has moved to end the international while
slave traffic,-a convention on the subject having
been indorsed by the league assembly last spring
and since signed by twentythree nations. The
league, through its representative, Dr. Nanscn, has
brought about the return of 100000 prisoners of
to their homes, it has given some assistance to
many thousands of Russian refugees and has been
OF service to exiled ArInenans.. The league did
valuable work in the typhus epidemic in Poland.
Recent treaties signed between Czecho-Slovaki
and Austria and Czecho- -Sovakia and Poland of
interest in connection with the league of nations
because these treaties agree, for the .signatory
tions, that future disputes will be settled by arbi-
tration, using the machinery Of the league if
sary. Recent matters of interest to the league in
clude: The report of the Japanese government to
the league on its administration of the inundated
former German colonies in the Pacific; the minting
by the league Of tiny gold franc to be used as a
standard of value; the official recognition to the
league accorded by the Pope last spring and the
meeting of Sir Eric Drummond, secretary Of the
league and Cardinal Gasparri Papal secretary of
state, this December; the statement in the French
Chamber OF Deputies by former Minister of Public
Works Sembat that the question of armament
duction should have been left to the league rather
than taken up at Washington and Premier Brands
tribute to the league the same time; the denial
by Sir Eric Drummond that the Washington con-
ference was to be regarded rival of the league;
and the summoning of the international court Of
justic: to meet at The Hague on January 80.
Recent statements in regard to the league in
l.. N
Wells declaration that the mandatory system of
the league was camoufage the statement by Oscar
Straus to Columbia students that the Washington
conference is the corridor which will lead TO our
membership in the league of nations and Viscount
Grcys declaration that the future peace of Europe
depends upon the development and support of the
league.
At its present session, the council OF the league
has agreed to guarantee the neutrality of the Aland
Islands, has requested Belgium to regulate the Afr
can liquor traffic, has voted to name commission
to study methods OF conciliation between nations
has given consideration to the protection of mnor-
tics in the Baltic states, has reelected the present
Saar commission, has invited the committee on
amendments to the covenant to continue its work.
and, it is said, has given favorable thought to, the
admission of Ireland % the league.
An offer by the council Of the league of ma
tions in session at Geneva to the allied supreme
council in session at Cannes, that the league CO.
operate i'll organizing the Genoa economic confer
ence, has been declined by the supreme council
acting on the suggestion of Lloyd George Doubt
less this action was taken because Lloyd George
and his associates want the United States to parti-
cipate in the Genoa conference and they feared il
the league of nations had anything to do with the
conference, the United States would refuse to play
The league remains in being, ready to take up
the great work of peace and progress and brother
hood, when nations are ready to use it as worthy
and efficient instrument.