The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-31
WORLD COURT HERE TO STAY,
 DRUMMOND
Secretary Of League Out lines Program For
 New Year
(CoDyright. 1024l

GENEVA. Dec. 30-The League of Nations is here to stay.
 This is the declaration of Sir Eric Drummond, general secretary of the League of Nations, in an exclusive in- terview.
 You have asked me what are the prospects of the League of Nations for 1925" said Sir Eric. Tn order to give an answer to that question l should have to be a prophet and know what are the international prospects of the world for the year, since the league now com prises B nations and it's affairs are in- innate bound up with those of it's members.
 "The league is now firmly established as recognized international OrganiZa- tion. I believe if you asked representa- tives of any of those 55 states to which I have referred they would declare that they could only with difficulty imagine a world in which no league of nations existed and that the disappearance of the league would create a void which would immediately have to be filled.
 "In a word, if it could be imagined that the present league ceased to func- tion, the nations would immediately pro- ceed to create fresh one.
 Discusses Program
 "You will therefore see that it is not possible to give a satisfactory answer to the question which you have put to me without somewhat changing it's phraseology. May I put it this way {: What is the league program for 1925 as at present arrangedY
 "Even so, 1 can only enumerate the chief problems with which the league will be called upon to deal, since the technical and non-political organs of the league q will speak of the political side in q moment) embrace so many ac- tivities in international and economic spheres.
 1.-The only definite political problem with which we know that the league will still be dealing in 1925 is that of the frontier between Turkey and the Irak territory. In this case an i'm portant mission has been sent out by the league council to examine the whole problem and make recommendations for a final settlement
 Final Conference Looms
 ''In the spring there will be the final conference to draft convention con cerning re-traffic in arms and munitions and during the year study will continue on questions arising out of the provate traffic of arms.
 ''Similarly another step will be taken toward the greater clarification and CO., dification of information law by the ap- pointment of a committee of some of the foremost jurists in the world.
 Meanwhile the regular automatic work of the league will continue with increased pace. The permanent court of International justice which has all ready had the 12 cases, probably will have an even greater activity this year.
 "The League of Nations financial and economic work will continue with the further evolution of the reconstruc- tion of Austria. Hungary and the Greek refugees and of the projects concerning customs, formalities, unfair competition, double taxation and the like.
 Cites Health Work
 'The International health work of the league should have fuller expression than ever before, as it is now thoroughly organized and generously financed to continue it's work in interchanging san itary personnel and for considering such questions as malaria, sleeping sickness, etc.
 MuCI Ol tHe HuluduIIdTldH WOFh Ol the league during the past few years is now coming to fruition, especially that in opium and white slavery.
 Finally, certain political responsi- bilities in the peace treaties, such as the development of the mandate principle and the protection of minorities, have now reached the stage of more or less automatic progress.
 As 1 have said, this is only a bare outline of the main activities of the league for 1925. But you asked what about the protocol for arbitration, se- curity and disarmament and the pro- posed conference on the latter question. This clearly is a subject which is of the greatest interest to all nations and will radically affect the whole course of in- ternational life.
 Refuses To Speculate Tt would be presumption on my part to try and indicate what will be the outcome of the discussions which are now being entered upon. There can, however, be no doubt that all nations concerned will give serious consideration to the proposals in the protocol that all disputes of whatever character shall be subjected to compulsory arbitration and that security shall by some method or other, be assured to a peaceful and law abiding state."