The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-07
BY MILTON BRONNER
NEA Service Writer

NEA Service Writer
LONDON, Dec. 7.--"But there is
always the League of Nations"
That is the reply one is apt to
get when one talks about how Eu-
rope is still an armed camp and
about how powder barrels in the
shape of new Alsace-LorraineS are
scattered all over the map await
ing only a spark to start an ex-
plosoin.
But the plain truth Is that the
league is shriveling up. 1t started
out to be world league.
But that dream ceased abruptly
when America would have none Of
it.
Then the most populous country
in Europe-Russia7-with the biggest
Asiatic possession in the world
Siberia-refused to have anything
to do with the league.
Then Spain gave notice that it
intended to withdraw, because it
was not given permanent seat in
the council and some of the South
American states grew cold toward
the league.
A Debating Society
The league tends more and more
to be league principally of
European States dealing with
European matters. Also it tends
more and more to be a debating
society.
But that is not all. When Presi-
dent Wilson was battling for the
principle of the League Of Nations
and a new diplomacy, he spoke of
open covenants openly arrived at"
That meant full publicity, dealing
in the open in front of witnesses,
who represented press and public.
no longer were a few old men,
sitting in secret session, to decide
the fate Of nations. The League
of Nations, in solemn conclave as
sembled, was to prevent wars.
The league, by it's massed opinion
and its massed power, was to force
nations to keep the peace.
Well, the plain truth is that the
league is bold where small nations
are concerned and timorous where
the big ones are the principals.
More and more the tendency is to
keep away from the league some Of
the greatest European problems.
League TimOrOus
Take the recent dispute between
the little state of Albania and the
bigger state of Jugoslavia. Albania
never would have dared make faces
at Jugoslavia, if big brother Italy
was not at her back.
And because Italy was there, the
matter was not taken up by the
League Of Nations.
The big powers advised that the
matter be settled outside the league.
There have been other matters in
which italy has had an interest
where the league has abstained from
interfering.
1t abstained because it was known
MusSolini would not hesitate a mo-
ment to take Italy out of the league
and declare his intention to have
freedom of action.
Lets Italy Alone
The league has never interfered
with Italy from Fiume to Corfu.
The league has never lessened the
grip France has on the Saar.
The league has never interfered
with Polands grab of the city Of
Wilma.
The league has done little or
nothing for the racial minorities
who find themselves in the new
Alsace-Lorraines The league has
accomplished practically nothing for
international disarmament.
Where the big powers have al
lowed it to function, it has done
its work splendidly we'll But the
big powers tell it too often that
certain matters are none Of its BUSH
ness.
The big powers are too inclined to
want "open covenants openly ar
rived at" only for the small nations.
Tomorrow: Old World Against
New.