Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20

MI questions QlSCuSSeQ Oy Ute
1 i League of Nations at Lugano
directly involved the United
States, and large part of this so
per cent affected interests vital to
Americas political, social and economic
life.
Although 1t was expected to have
been one of the least interesting ses-
sions OF the year, the Lugano Council
nevertheless furnished a perfect eX-
ample of the interlocking aspects Of the
political, financial, social, technical and
economic interests of the civilized ma
tionS of the world. Then at the last
minute there appeared on the horizon
the South American war threat. The
League had ample excuse for keeping
its hands off this complicated and diff
cult question. yet there was not mo-
ment'S hesitation as to what the Coun-
Gil would do.
Reminded Of Pledges.
Acting under the article in the
covenant which makes it the interest
of the League whenever the peace of
the world is threatened" AriStide
BRAND, acting president, with the
unanimous approval of the thirteen
other members of the Council called
the attention of Paraguay and Bolivia
to their treaty pledges. And though
there may be those who claim credit
| for stamping out the flames of war. fol
the Pan-American Conference on Con-
Citation and Arbitration, one of Wash
ington's highest diplomatic officials In
! Europe has frankly acknowledged thai
it was the Councils action and nothing
| else that brought Bolivia and Paraguay
to their senses.
Another question, not on the Councils
agenda, yet a dominant one at Lugano
was reparationS. Until the United
States points the way it is extremely
doubtful that Europe can untangle thu
skein Of economic and financial com
plexities arising out of the Versailles
treaty. War debts and reparations arr
inseparable. Washington and Wal
street hold the solution; Whether It b
revision or commercialiZation of Ger
many's payments that will bring a So
luton depends entirely upon them
While at Lugano, BRAND, StreSemanr
and Chamberlain, with Adatchi of ia
pan and Scialoja of Italy often sit
ting in, prepared the political grounC
for the financial experts Paris parleys
Kellogg Pact Vehicle Sought.
1t would be difficult to say which
questions on the actual agenda of tn
Council were of greatest interest to thu
United States. The World Court, which
Washington again contemplates joining
appeared when the Council took up tn,
question of advisory opinions, revision
of the statutes and the matter of en-
larging the bench. Considering tina
American interest in the court IS a
l IsAk af o. nf0n ,
/ in view of the necessity Of providing {;
vehicle for the Kellogg pact. the Coun
Gil appointed an international commit
tee, which is to include an America!
national, to make preliminary study o
possible changes in the statutes. Sucl
| prominent international juriSts as "
Fromageot, France; NJ Gaus, Germany
Sir Cecil Hurst, Britain; M. Politis
Greece; M. Ito, Japan; Senator Sci
| ALOHA, Italy; M. ,Urrutia, Colombia; M
| Van Eysinga, Holland; M. Raesstad
Norway, and M. Rundsteim, Poland
were selected by the Council. The presi
dent of the Council, M. BRAND, and TIN
| rapporteur, M. Scialoja, were author
lied to select the American member O
the committee. AS to the question O
advisory opinions, the stumbling bloc
preventing WaShington'S adherence, III
/ Council decided 1t was too important
matter to be taken hastily, and advises
the governments to give further though
to the matter.
Codification of international law wa
another question of more than passin;
interest to Washington. The League
committee, upon which George w
Wickersham, former Attorney Genera
in the Taft cabinet, has sat for 81,
years, has reached a point where al
international codification of law con
ference is possible.
Code Committee Appointed.
The Council appointed a committed
of three, NJ, Schuecking, Germany
Diena, Italy, and Guerrero, Salvador, Il
prepare systematic survey of the mat.
tiers, which 1t proposes to include In TIT
codif1cation, and to draw up a code
| of various international conventions
which are to be published as an anne,
to the Leagues treaty series. The ques.