Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
LEAGUE RELATIONS
IS U. S. PROBLEM
Next Administration Faced
With Protecting American
Foreign Interests.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Dai
News. Copyright. 1923.

GENEVA, September 15.-One OF the
most important problems of foreign
policy the new American administra-
ton will have to deal with when it
takes Office next year will be that of the
United States relations to the League
Of Nations.
Much has been done in the last few
years toward effective official co-opera-
ton between Washington and Geneva.
But if American foreign interests as
lately defined by President Coolidge and
fixed by the Kellogg pact are to be
adequately protected, more remains to
be done.
President Coolidge has recently given
\ new definition of our position abroad.
Financially and economically he has
said that our interests are now world
eide. ANY nation which starts interna-
tional trouble hurts our interests. Fur
thermore, whenever trouble threatens
anywhere. we must be vigilant and per-
haps even make our voice heard: for =
is better. the President said, to take
steps to prevent war than to be faced
with the grave problem of what to do
after war breaks out.
Business Done at Geneva.
Our interest in foreign trade and in
vestment. like our interest in prevent
ing wars, can only be advanced In CO.
operation with other nations. But most
other nations are members OF the
League. A large part of their interna-
tional business is being done in Geneva.
We have gradually been sending otfi-
cial delegations more and more fire.
ouently hither, not because we desire
to. but because we can scarcely help
ourselves.
Many things are being done here
which affect the United States in one
way or another. Great nations have al
ways known that it was better to be
present than absent when subjects were
under discussion which might AFFECT
their interests. So the State Department
is cooperating with the League:
In the II months just ended there
was scarcely one important brancn OF
League work wherein we did not Oh
ficiallv participate. In particular we
are playing active roles in the decisions
of economic and disarmament problems.
This cooperation, although strictly lin
fled. entails constant liaison between
the League and the State Department.
Leagues Work Sbuulcu bCtC'
In the State Department itself, if this
correspondent is correctly informed, are
three officials who form sort of League
bureau, devoting themselves largely 10
the study of League work. Field posts
also devoted largely to a lialson with
the League are the consulate In Geneva
and the ministry in Bern, both OF
which thereby have become flrst-rate
posts. The consul at Geneva now Is
Elbridge Rand who is fresh from the
LEAGUE bureau in the State Department.
He keeps track of all American IN
terests in the League and reports both
to Bern and Washington. The min
lister in Bern, Hugh Wilson, represents
the United States officially at the
League whenever We decide not TO seno
O special delegation.
But although we are participating in
much League work, we still have no
voice in the League Assembly, the Coun-
Gil or the Secretarlat, winch uecloe
upon, execute and follow through this
same work in which we admittedly are
interested.
Large sums of American philanthrop1c
money are being contributed to the
League for one purpose or another. Our
Government has no voice in the way
these endowmentS chall be spent. Many
noted Americans have accepted League
amendments. Cur Government has
practically no voice in these appoint
ments.
No Voice in Decisions.
The Kellogg pact places on us moral
obligation to frown upon aggression. In
the same situation other nations VIII
act through the League, and we may
find ourselves DESTROYS of acting with
them: vet we can have no voice IN their
decisions.
The present League assembly, in
which We are not represented, is dis
cussing all sorts of affairs In winch we
have been taking and shall continue TO
take part. There is the struggle 10 NIX
Immediately the next date for a meet
inc of the preparatory disarmament
commission, of which we are members,
and to call the disarmament conference
which we expect to attend. The dale
will be fixed without us. There is the
new debate on restricting the private
manufacture and sale abroad of arms.
This affects us, but we are not here.
Decisions are being taken about the
codification Of international law. We
are cooperating, but others are decld-
ing the program.
A series of arbitration and security
likely affect future international law:
We are making no contribution toward
these important drafts There is the
discussion as to whether the 1nterna-
tional Institute of Agriculture shall be
affiliated with the League. We are
members of the institute. but others are
determining the affiliation. There is
the proposal for an international con-
vention against rum running. IL VIII
be undertaken or not without us. mere
Is the proposal for an international
study of the bad effects OF alcohol.
Others will block or further it.
NAV Aid In Program.
A years program in public health.
the drug evil, child welfare, communlca-
lions and transit is being laid down.
We will doubtless help in all these, put
only after the program is established;
International studies OF the Goa! ana
sugar situations are being ordered ana
international aspects OF the tarln are
being discussed. We will take part
after the League discussion.
The League counsel the other DAY
stated that the Monroe Doctrine leaves
duties and benefits to all League mem
berK intact. Canada and several Latm
American countries contributed to this
statement but not we.
The Chinese Nationalist government
wanted to be elected last week to the
League council. 1t failed because OF the
political intrigue of a block OF Latn
American states. We want to help
China and we have influence with the
Latin Americans, yet in this important
business we were helpless.
Relations Still Ambiguous.
In short, our relations to the League
while constantly improving are still
ambiguous and not wholly satisfactory
either to our interest or to the Leagues.
What, then, can be done to give better
protection to our many interests here?
One thing, the personnel of the Geneva
consulate might be still further