Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06

sequence. the twelfth annual assembly
Of the League of Nations which con-
venes tomorrow, Monday, September Z.
under the provisional presidency OF
Alexandra LerrouX foreign minister OF
Spain, will be faced with perhaps the
most serious periodic crisis in its event.
full career.
Crises are common things in Geneva;
the League councils and commissions.
and the international conferences helo
here face them at every turning ana
usually emerge none the worse Tor the
wear When things go wrong and
blind alleys are reached, in small as
we'll as large matters, responsible
statesmen sneak away to Thoiry, An
nccy, Divonne and other nearby vii
lagos renowned for their restaurants,
or take cooling excursions on Lake
Leman to adjust their differences
The twelfth anniversary OF the
League. however. finds efforts at IN
ternational cooperation complicated
with crucial problems, such as war
debts. reparations, the Austro- German
"anschluss." tariffs and disarmament
to say nothing of irritating national
sore spots brought on by unemploy-
ment. social disorders and political
upheavals
Few qualified observers will deny
that Europe is standing at the cross
nations will have to decide the fork
they are to follow-whether they will
go along together under the aegiS of
the League or separate and adopt the
pre-war system of alliances. Show
downs are overdue on many issues
disarmament chiefly And disarma-
ment involves the Versailles treaty
which to France and her mid-Euro-
pean allies at least, is sacred.
"Blocs" Forming.
The "blocs" in formation ever since
Germany entered the League four years
ago, have become more distinct. Siding
with the eX-cnemy states are to be
found Italy. the Scandinavian and
neutral countries. and now. since the
overthrow of the monarchy Spain
threatens to leave France in the lurch.
Britain. too, is finding it increasingly
difficult to maintain the balance OF
power III recent months the United
States has re-entered haltingly. and
with great diffldence. the European pic
ture through President Hoovers mora
forum suggestion and the discussion
despite denials, Of war debts, disarma-
ment and other problems by Secretary
Mellon and Secretary Stimson with
Europe's statesmen. But neither the
League nor European governments count
heavily on American promises. They
always remember the Senate-and the
Versailles Treaty, League Covenant and
World Court negotiations.
So fraught with potentialities are the
next few weeks at Geneva that no less
than % countries of the so attending
the League Assembly are represented
by premiers. foreign ministers or both.
While delicate conversations are being
carried on behind closed doors and in
ternational policies of various capitals
broadcast for public consumption from
the rostrum of the assembly hall, chan
cellories of London. Paris, Rome, Berlin.
Warsaw and others less important will
be marking time. Moscow and Wash
tngton will have their ears to the
ground. too, during the next fortnight
If they are seriously interested in
whittier disarmament is going and the
showdown that is inevitable when the
world conference is called next Feb
ruary. At that time. if not before.
Europe'S cards will be laid on the table.
The coming weeks at Geneva will de-
termine whether the cards are to be
stacked. Soviet Russia. at last accli-
mated to Geneva activities through the
participation of BolShevist delegations
in many conferences. will have had her
foreign minister Maxim Litvinoff. on
the scene, and Washington'S high COM
missioner generally known as consul
generaD PrentisS Gilbert and Minister
Hugh Wilson from BeTne will have ring
side seats. Even Mexico and Turkey
have their observers" here and are fol-
lowing developments closely.
Or the official agenda OF the Assem-
bly, are to be found "a items. Others
will be added as the Assembly gets
underway The keynote speeches of
Aristide BRAND Arthur Henderson.
Alexandra Lerroux, DR.. Curtis, DINO
Grand and other lesser personalities
will open the way for new issues. espe-
ciallv in the economic sphere. During
the sessions of the Assembly the Coun-
Gil will continue grinding away on its
top-heavy program. and. unless advance
information is false, will pass along to
the Assembly the memorandum OF
Portugal regarding Council elections.
Fight for Persia's Seat.
According to the system now in vogue.
three new members to the Council VIII
be elected Spain, Persia and Ven
ez,lela will have served their three-year
terms this September Spain is due for
reelection, having been declared, with
Poland, to be re-eligible. Siam and
China will be in the running for Per-
sias seat If China does not get II
some real fireworks can be expected
The Marking Nationalist have played
their cards cleverly the past year: Be-
sides owing the. League more than
million dollars in back dues they have
persuaded the Sercetariat and Council
to send economic, health. communlca-
tions and transit and educational eX-
perts to the Orient, Ito help put emma
on her feet" The League Is too deeply
involved" to turn deaf ear 10
China's demand Two South American
and Latin American states have al
wear. Whether SPANS re-eliglbllty Will
be conceded as a South American rep
resentation is doubtful. Making two
bodies occupy the same space at the
same time is the difficulty.
Portugal. in complicating the situa-
ton by her demand for a seat, and III
an inferred threat to withdraw from
the League if the inequality of Council
representation is not remed1ed, has ao-
yanced a possible way out OF the dllem-
ma by suggesting that another member
be added 1t took BraZil's resignation
and SPANS temporary abstention. to
say nothing of the humiliation inflicted
upon Germany. to revise the old system.
Whether the withdrawal OF Portugal.
and perhaps other smaller states tfor
Portugal has the pledged support OF at
least a dozen countries) will be enough
to inaugurate another election reform
is problematical.
Many of the routine matters coming
before the Assembly hold direct inter-
est for the United States.
The proposal fer amending the League
Covenant so as to bring it into har-
mony with the Kellogg outlaWry OF
war pact. is again up for consideration.
Last years Assembly became so hope
lessly entangled in legal and political
technicalities that the matter was re-
ferred to a special commission of jur-
lists for study. Their report will be
placed before the Assembly and definite
aa+;o,, avyacfed IN result