Evening star., 1932-10-23
SUPPORTERS PLAN
/. FIGHT FOR LEAGUE
Institution Lacking Popular
Favor Faces Financial
MoraSS.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Although tne League Of Nations Is a
young institution, its sympathizers feel
that something must be done to pre-
vent its falling into decay by prema-
ture senility. The League. 1t Is ad-
mitted, is in a bad way. Financially,
it is on the verge Of bankruptcy be-
cause many Of its members. on account
of the world economic depression and
for other reasons, are reluctant to pay
their dues. But aside from this the
favor rapidly.
The League has never captured the
public imagination. It's proceedings
lack completely the spectacular and
picturesque qualities which attract pub
lie favor. The dreary monotone OF the
interpreters which follows every
speech, the inadequate ventilation Of
the assembly hall-an conduce to SOM
nolence. Once in long while there Is
an amusing note brought in either by
some delegate or by the Interpreters
as happened last April when Senator
Swanson made an impaSsioned speech
and pronounced the word four in q
true Virginian manner "foh."
Translation Is Asked.
The interpreter used to the oxford
accent of most Of the English speak
ing orators leaned forward and asked
an American member what does this
word mean and how do you translate 1t
into French?" But these enlivening
incidents are rare. The most ardent
League enthusiast may be interested
but never Ntalized by the Geneva
atmosphere.
And yet, it is said, it need not be.
A touch of color here and there, a
trace of formality would make all the
difference between deadly dullness and
something interesting.
1t is being suggested now that the
League would do wen to employ an ex-
pert movie director to turn its meetings
into captivating pictures that could be
shown all over the world.
The assembly is claimed by many to
be the embryo Of world parliament.
Why, therefore, should there not be de-
veloped a ritual so that 1t attains solem-
nifty, dignity and impressiveness that
now are conspicuous for their absence?
Many touches might be devised, it Is
said by the advocates of the rejuvena-
tion of the. League. Instead Of creep
ing from behind the curtains. the presi-
dent and his encourage might make an
sntry from the end Of the hall and walk
in procession up the entire length Of
the building.
Suggested Changes.
A mace bearer could be provided. The
attendants could be in uniform, instead
of decayed suits with faded arm bands.
Outside the building might be con-
Quoted 3 ceremony of breaking the
flags" of the countries represented A
special international police force with
brass bandD, which might form the
nucleus of the future League army,
might be organized instead of the
League having to appeal to the Swiss
police officers whenever there Is trouble
within the grounds of the League. And
recently there has been suficient
trouble to justify the organizations S
having such a police force. In July the
italian and the French parliamentary
delegates came to blows and had to be
expelled from the hall with the aid OF
Geneva police officers, while only three
weeks ago q Hungarian fired a pistol
shot from the outside grounds at the
members in session and Just missed a
newspaper man.
The League, its supporters say. de-
rives its support from public opinion.
But it takes no steps to capture the
public imagination. which is the first
step toward gaining its support. If 1t Is
impossible to brighten the delegates. at
least brighten the proceedings.