The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-29

WTitcF IN 4V04l0u, udS uutAu8 INC past
summer, Travelled over, France, Ger
many. Belgium, Denmark, Holland and
In September he went to Geneva,
Switzerland. the home city of the
League, at the very time 1t was hold
ing its sessions, and then, obtained
first hand information as to what the
League has done, is doing and purpos-
es to do, for the best welfare of all
nations. make extracts from his
wonderful record that l wish could be
read by every intelligent person in
this country. not influenced by person
al, partisan prejudice. And here are
some of them:
Geneva is the capital of the Lea
que of Nations. Members of the
League and some of its citizens call
1t the Peace Capital of the world.
This Is so II we except Russia, Ger
many, Turkey, Mexico, Ecuador and
the United States. Fifty-two ma
tions have entered the League and
there are only eight which are on the
outside. Some of the latter are ex-
peeting to join and as to the Ameri-
cans. upon Bonded knees. they beg us
to enter"
Then he speaks of the city of Cen
eva and the sceneries of the surround
ing country. And of the palace
where the sessions of the League are
held, and adds: Entering the pal
ace | was glad to find no court funk
les in livery, nor soldiers and swords
and guns at the door. Admission
is free to all, men and women of all
nations and there is messenger at
the entrance who speaks English, Ger
man, French and italian, who tells
you where to go and what is to be
seen. / explored the palace, going
from room to room and meeting the
higher officials, sitting In some of
the conferences and trying to get as
best | could a conception of what the
League Is and what ii Is really doing
and trying to do In bringing about bet
ter international relations among the
many powers and people of the earth
Today 1t Is quiet and peaceful and is
largely founded on faith but that faith
promises to be the kind that moves
mountains and is already on its way
to plishment. In living the
League of Nations Is an association of
nations which are pledged to new
way of conducting affairs. These ma
lions have signed a contract or cove
nant to do certain things. They have
pledged themselves not to go to war
with each other, or with any outside
nation, without bringing their disputes
for arbitration before the League
The nations at fault are supposed to
follow the advice and abide by the
decisions of the League, and if>they
go to war without submitting their
disputes, the other nations are bound
to sever all relations with the Offend
ing ones"
Another provision of the League is
that all the nations agree to work to-
gether for certain subjects which are
mainly welfare, financial and economi-
cal. These include all matters relative
to international health, the traffic in
opium and other dangerous drugs the
suppression of the white slave traffic
in women and children. They relate
also to certain financial and economic
matters and to matters of international
transit. To carry out these objects
the League of Nations has been or
ganized into an assembly and coun-
Gil. The assembly meets here once a
year in September; the council every
two months" r Al
Then he outlines the activities of
these bodies and adds: I'm addition
there is the International Court of
Justice consisting Of eleven judges and
four deputy judges elected by the as
sembly and council"
Further on he says: What it has
accomplished andajwhat 1t is doing
would fill severala columns of this
newspaper. e have had talks with
Sir James Eric Drummond, Mr.. Albert
officials from a dozen different prom
officials from a dozen different prom
inent countries, and I am impressed
with the earnestness and confidence
that all seem to have and with their
plain common sense point of view of
world troubles These men are all
experts in matters relating to their
own countries and there is scarcely a
subject that cannot be threshed out
on the ground The meetings of the
council and assembly are largely con-
ferences. where the active representa-
tives of the nations come together to
discuss, not only Their own differences,
but similar matters relating to their
fellow nations ofyother parts of the
world. The greatest courtesy pre-
walls at. these meetings and they are
really bringing the governments and
peoples of the world closer together.
All this is being done at very small
cost. Fsee no signs of extravaganza
anywhere and the work partakes of
great industry and practical common
sense administration. A few words
as to what the League has done.
have a report as to that from one of
the officials. 1t consists of ~ pages
of typewriter manuscript. My re-
port must be confined to very few
lines.
In the first place the League has
really begun to control matters of
war and peace. 1t has settled with
out warfare the dispute between Fin
land and Sweden, as to the Ashland
Islands. II settled the Albanian
Serbian boundary dispute where the
Jugo-Slavs had actually begun fight
ing. 1t has fixed the frontiers OF
Llthuania and Poland and minor in