Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-28
LEAGUE STRIVES
FOR TRADE AM|TY
Tariff Truce Scheme of Eco.
nomiC Group Attracts
Attention.

GENEVA, December % (P).-While
the world has been watching momentous
events in international politics-chiefly
concerned with Anglo American rela-
tons and naval questions-the League
of Nations in the last quarter of 1929
has been carrying out an extensive
economic program.
Leaders OF the Leagues economic work,
pleased and hopeful because of their
political brethrens apparent progress
toward disarmament and security, are
striving to develop spirit of economic
cooperation among nations as their
contribution to world peace.
Widest interest perhaps attaches to
launching of the scheme for a tariff
truce" The Leagues economic COM
mittee has framed a draft treaty for
the proposed customs armistice, and
governments of all countries have been
asked to give their opinions as to the
advisability of holding diplomatic con-
ference as further step.
Experts Meet Next Year.
The economic committee also has ar
ranged to convene early in 1880 a meet
ing of experts from all parts of the
world to study agricultural industries,
which are said to be generally in a
poor state.
The fiscal committee, which, like the
economic committee, has an American
member, has contributed a plan for
eliminating double taxation and another
plan for abolishing taxation on touring
automobiles in foreign countries.
A multilateral agreement for equal
treatment of foreigners was devised at
Paris in November by a conference held
under League auspices. Questions in
volved in this cooperative move also
are largely economic.
Another League-engendered confer
ence at Paris hopes to give effect
to the treaty for abolition of import
and export restrictions and prohibit
tions. which the United States has
ratified
These activities are the work of the
League secretariat. The international
labor Office, the Leagues institution
which deals with industrial matters,
also has been active.
Upset Over Coal Situation
Anxious because of the chaos in the
European coal world, the labor Office
has summoned for January a meeting
of technical experts from nine principal
coal-producing countries to make a
accommodating attack on problems in
this basic industry.
A survey of living costs in the great
industrial cities of Europe has been
organized by the labor Office. This
survey is in response to request from
the Ford Motor Co. of Detroit, which
wants information that will serve as a
basis for fixing a wage scale in it's
projected European factories equivalent
to the wage scale for It's American
plants.
The recent maritime conference of
the I. L. o. examined conditions af-
fecting shipping companies and COM
mercial seamen. and proposals for i'm
proving these conditions. The dis
cussions are expected to bear fruit in
later conference at a date yet I'M
determined.
A formula for a worldwide inquiry
into working conditions in the textile
industry was adopted this month by
the textile committee of the interna-
tional labor office. It is hoped that
this inquiry will ultimately encourage
improvement and Standardization of
conditions of textile factory work, and
remove inequalities which are now
handicapping the industry in some
European countries.