Evening star., 1932-12-28
PLAN PERMANENT
u. s. GENEVA BODY
More Adequate Representa-
ton at League of Nations
Capital Discussed.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The possibility Of America sending a
delegation to remain permanently az
Geneva was the chief topic discussed
in American and foreign diplomatic
circles in Washington today.
The first inkling that such a thought
is in the mind of American diplomats
came from somewhat nebulous state
ment made by the special representative
of the Hoover administration in Europe,
Norman H. Davis. In discussing the
satisfactory results of the arms parley.
he stated that the principal world
nations had ccme to an agreement re-
garding the abolition of heavy offensive
arms such as over calibered guns. heavy
bombs and poisonous gases launched
from airplanes. He added that If such
an agreement were finally decided upon
it might be possible for the nations
which have signed it. to enforce such
decisions even if war was going on
hence the necessity of a permanent
delegation at Geneva.
But the Interpretation given to Mr..
Davis statement was caused ma My by
an article published recently in the
American papers by Col. Edward House,
who is believed to be very close to Gov.
Roosevelt, wherein he stated his opinion
that America cannot divorce herself
from the complex international prob
lens of today.
Results Satisfactory.
On the other hand, it is known that
the State Department is highly satisfied
with the results of its collaboration with
the League on all the present problems.
including the Far Eastern question. For
close to one year now, under cloak OF
having an American delegation discuss
disarmament at Geneva. the American
Government has participated. unoffi-
cially, at all the important discussions
of the League. Until the beginning of
the disarmament conversations, the
American Government had an observer
in the person of PrentisS Gilbert, the
American consul general at Geneva.
Since last February an imposing
American delegation has been sitting at
Geneva, and with the resumption of the
disarmament negotiations, which may
last for years, and the opening Of the
international economic conference,
which also may be protracted for an
indefinite time, certain high officials of
the State Department believe that it
would be necessary to have this country
adequately represented-that is to say
more than by a mere consul at the
capital Of the League Of Nations.
idea Gains Ground.
This idea has been gaining more
ground, especially since it has been
known that the principal members of
the League shortly will appoint special
Ambassadors to the League to remain
there in permanence, in order to avoid
the irregular hasty trips Of the foreign
secretaries and prime ministers every
time there is a meeting Of the council.
The League, the friends Of that or
ganization say, has become lately too
important forum to be treated cas-
ually
Whether President ELECT Roosevelt
is in sympathy with such scheme is
for the time being unknown. Those
close to him say, however, that it will
be most unlikely for the next President
Of the United States to embark rashly
into such a policy which would mean
complete departure from the traditional
policies Of the American people. The
idea is certainly not popular in Con-
gress. and the feeling among prominent
leaders Of both Houses is that should
any administration ask for the neces-
sary appropriations for such a purpose
they would be without doubt refused.
Judged without any sentimentalism
it is said in influential congressional
quarters the results of the cooperation
of the American Government with the
League Of Nations have been to say
the least. negative None Of the prob
lens which were submitted to the
League for final decision have been
solved, and in the minds of cool-headed
American political men, anv entangle-
ments with the League would certainly