Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
League Meeting Gives
England New Questions
by A. G. GARDINER,
Ensland's Greatest Liberal Editor.


LONDON, September e. Arthur
Henderson, foreign minister, substan-
TALLY reduced in physical bulk by his
months Of pursuit of the orange cure,
left for Geneva this week to attend the
eleventh assembly of the League of
Nations, which promises to be of the
utmost Importance.
Two outstanding subjects on the
agenda are themes Of widespread dis
cussion in the English press. The first
OF these relates to the proposed Eu.
ropean federation. It Is agreed that
Aristide Brands concrete scheme for
an economic United States of Europe Is
dead. 1t has been riddled from every
angle and the majority Of the European
states have made it clear that they will
have no part in the setting up of any
kind Of organization in rivalry to the
League.
But 1t is not merely loyalty to the
League which has aroused hostility to
the BRAND scheme. Most of the States,
in their replies, have indicated the
dangers of European "Zollverein"
formed for the purpose of waging tariff
wars against the United States of
America or other ron-European coun-
tries. These dangers are especially
present to the mind of Great Britain,
which, though involved in the con-
tinental structure, has vast European
Affiliations with which formal Eu-
ropean "zollverein" could not fail to
conflict.
Though Brands scheme is con-
demned, it has concentrated attention
on the community Of economic interests
between European countries and the
urgent Importance Of removing the
barriers to trade between them. It is
seen that economic disarmament is
essential for the creation of an atnos-
phere in which military disarmament
can be accomplished and it is felt that
the present distress of Europe offers
occasion for the most importan advance.
\ Il 4 II
Financial and industrial troubles,
from which all the states are suffering,
have their roots in an international
crisis which can only be solved on in
ternational lines, and 1t Is hoped that
the League will extend the scope of its
economic activities to the major prob
lens Of international trade and finance.
This can be done not by setting UP
rival organization, but through the ex-
listing machinery Of the League and o
regional understanding provided for in
the covenant of the League.
In this connection one of the chief
issues at the Assembly turns upon the
character of the League secretariat.
There are two conflicting theories as
to the nature and allegiance of the
secretariat. The traditional League
view is that the members of the sec
retariat are servants OF an international
organization owing primary obedience
to the League and not to the state OF
which they are the subjects. Only on
this basis can the League work har-
moniously as an instrumert Of inter-
national cooperation.
The rival theory, which is sponsored
by Italy and supported by Germany,
holds that the places in the secretariat
are prizes to be competed for by the
foreign Offices and that q member OF
the secretariat owes his allegiance
primarily to the country OF which he
is a subject. This would make Geneva
the center not of cooperation, but OF
competition. The result of the debates
on this subject Is awaited with much
concern. as it involves the whole char
actAr and spirit Of the League.
But the most important subject ct
this Assembly is the proposed amend
ment to the covenant in order to bring
IL in harmony with the Kellogg anti.
war pact. Britain has special inter-
est In this, having raised the subject
at the last Assembly. In itself the
amendment is excellent 1t will prevent
any nation breaking the pact by plead
ing the permission of the covenant.
The danger fies in the fresh emphasis
the amendment gives to the sanctions