Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
U. S. QUESTIONS OCCUPY :
HALF OF LEAGUES TIME
Lugano Council Furnishes Example of
Interlocking Aspects of Interests
by World Powers.

ton of an additional judgeship, which
will guarantee permanent representa-
tives for the United States and Ger
many, will be considered by the COM
mittee on revision of the statutes. In
the economic field the Council first took
I'D the question of double taxation and
tax evasion. The Department Of Com
merce, under President-elect Hoover,
took a deep interest In this subject,
which so vitality affects American COM
mercial interests abroad, and had O
large delegation at the Geneva confer
ences. The Council recommended that
governments begin negotiations for the
conclusion of conventions, along the
lines worked out by the League COM
mittee 1t also decided to create within
the framework of the League organiza-
ton a committee to study taxation
questions This committee, which Is to
be appointed by the Council, will in
clude an American among its 10 men,
bers. or at least a representative OF
Washington serving as corresponding
member"
Another matter which undoubtedly
will have widespread interest is the
committee which the Council ordered
set up to study the causes of fluctua-
tions of the purchasing power Of gold
and their effect upon economic life"
This committee will include eight or,
nine persons and few members Of the
financial committee of the League.
Disarmament Issue Important.
Disarmament is another question In
which the United States plays a very
important part. No decision is ever
taken by the League without first either
directly consulting Washington or weigh
ing the possible viewpoint of the United
States. The reconvening of the pre-
| paratory commission on reduction and
| limitation of ornaments was ordered by
the last Assembly during the first OF
| 1923, but the Council, in private Ses-
sion, decided to delay its convocation
until after Mr. Hoover had been inaug-
urated. In Difference to the United
States not being member of the
League, the Council also decided to al
low the preparatory commission TO de-
| limit its own agenda so as not TO in
clude questions which might be dis
tasteful to Washington at the moment.
| The commission discussing the con-
| troll of private manufacture Of arms
having reported failure to draw UP
draft convention, largely because OF
constitutional objections put forward by
the American and Italian delegations,
was instructed to resume its delibera-
lions in February and report again to
the March Council.
OF more than passing interest was
the Councils action in regard to the
opium and narcotic problem. The
United States, after the unfortunate
Geneva conferences of 1925-26, with
drew officially from cooperating with
the Leagues social section in its fight
against dangerous drugs. The League
was in no way to blame for the re-
fuSal of its members. who had certain
interests" to protect, to accept the
American thesis Of Limitation of pro-
duction and manufacture to the med
ical and scientific needs of the world"
But the Geneva convention having been
signed and ratified by the REQUESTS
number of states. it fell to the League
to create the central board" which was
to see that the treaty was carried out.
u. S. Member Nominated.
The League, despite Washington's
aloOfneSS, invited the Government to
nominate a member for the central
board. Secretary of State Kellogg re-
fused. So the Council, independent Of
the Washington administration, NOM
mated a prominent American, Herbert
May, of the Foreign Policy Association.
1t then sent singing reply to Kelloggs
| 1C4uouA W CO-OPCAotC, Out
the inconsistencies in the American
position. Singularly enough, at the
same time the American Government
refused to have anything to do with
the Leagues fight against dangerous
drugs, on the ground that it would be
ineffective" 1t welcomed an inquiry
by the League into opium smoking III
the Philippines.
Among the other interesting, but less
important, matters before the Council
which affected the United States, was
the invitation to Washington to particle
pate in and help fix the date for an in
ternational conference for the protec-
ton Of foreigners. the decision TO call
second sleeping sickness conference,
appointment Of an advisory commission
on refugees, a review Of the Armenian
| question, and numerous social and hui
manitarian questions which involve
American private philanthropy.
Copyright. 1921