Evening star., 1924-04-16
Detailed Explanation of Form
of Cooperation With the
League Held Significant.
u. S. GAINS ARE SAME
AS THOSE OF MEMBERS
Address Declared Effort to Fore
stall Democratic Attack in
Presidential Campaign.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Entirely apart from the purely po-
litical phases of the speech made TO
the Republican convention of the
state of New York by its former
governor, Charles Evans Hughes.
now Secretary of State, the greatest
significance attaches to the first COM
prehensive explanation made by him
OF the form by which the United
states has co-operated and intends
to cooperate hereafter with the
League of Nations at Geneva.
Knowing full we'll that the Demo-
Gratis plan an attack on Republican
ism this coming campaign for having
failed to make good the pledge of
an association of nations as sub
stitute for the League of Nations, Mr.
Hughes makes the first attempt to
prove that the United States in its
present temper toward participa tion
in European political controversies is
accomplishing just as much by means
OF unofficial observers" as il would
with fully authorized representatives
sitting officially in the committees
and councils OF the League of Ma
tions.
Compares Methods.
1t is frequently overlooked" said
Mr.. Hughes. that even IL we had a
representative at Geneva. he would
not speak when our government de-
sired him to be silent His presence
there would not permit him to par
ticipate in discussions or action when
our government did not wish such
participation. What our government
would desire in each case would de-
pend on the subject matter. our tradi-
tfonal attitude and our conception of
national interest. 1t would depend
upon sentiment here, not upon senti-
ment abroad. Moreover, IL Congress
undertook to authorize such repre-
sentation, the Congress itself most
to give Instructions. and you can well
imagine what the debate would be
and what the instructions would be
In -cases where European political
questions were involved and matters
foreign to our interests were con-
cerned. The truth Is that we CO.
operate now. where the subject mat
ter is such that we would be able to
at all. Indeed. we CO.
operate with a facility and elasticity
the event of association in a formal
organization. If this led to restric-
tions imposed through fear of the
possible abuses OF opportunity which
such an association would afford"
says Form Not So Important.
Secretary Hughes insists taat the
form Of our cooperation is not so
important as the substance. He
points out that while the United
States cannot appoint its representa-
tives to sit as members Of the
leagues council. assembly or COM
mittees. this fact is recognized in the
or unofficial representatives who have
a appropriate contract with such COM
mittees in matters affecting our in
terests or the humanitarian concerns
which appeal to us"
II is at this point that Mr. Hughes
explains the status of the observers,
saying: They are unof1lciai simply IN
the sense that they are and cannot
properly become members of the
league orga niZation or committees.
But so far as our government is con-
cerned they represent 1t Just as COM
pletely as those designated by the
President always have represented
our government in the conferences
and negotiations which he properly
in the conduct Of our for
eign relations.
"Of course, such representatives can
not enter into any agreements with
other governments until they are ap-
proved in accordance with the re-
ouirements of our Constitution. There
is no more difficulty in dealing with
the organization of the league in
this way for the purpose of protect
ing our interests or furthering our
policies than there would be in deal
ing with the British empire. Because
several nations have formed an or
ganizasion of which we are not a
part is no reason why we cannot CO.
operate in all matters affecting our
proper concern We simply adjust our
forms of contract and negotiation to
the existing conditions"
Hold Ambassador Status.
The foregoing utterance, approved
by President Coolidge, means that
hereafter there will be no attempt to
lessen the prestige of American COM
missioners abroad by the use OF the
words unofficial observer" They will
have the same status and authority
as any ambassadors or ministers ac-
credited to a particular government
or federation of nations like the
British dominions.
Far from considering the league
of nations as dead" the Department
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