Evening star., 1932-10-09
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWER.

IhOL SSol IuoVLA
~ ENEVA.-Rivalry between the
British government and the
r League of Nations, as to
~ where and how Europe's grave
problems can best be dealt
with. has resulted thus far In a
deadlock.
Donaid's idea of holding conference
of four big powers-Great Britain,
France, Germany, Italy-on the Ger
man claim to equal ornaments, has
been deferred if not dropped. But. at
the same time. all major activities IN
Geneva have suddenly slowed down al
most to a point of marking time.
Private talks between Paris and Lon
don and Berlin and Rome are probably
continuing hut, unless the unexpected
happens, it looks now as If there is
going to be something like a months
diplomatic truce. One after another,
poned until some time in November.
Delegation Scatters.
The American delegation, which a
week ago gathered in Geneva in an i'm
posing force, suddenly has scattered.
Ambassador Frederic NJ Sackett has
left Germany for the United States.
Prentiss B. Gilbert. consul at Geneva,
and the consulate are keeping their eye
on the preparation for the world eco
nomic conference, while Hugh r. VIII
son, Minister to Switzerland and dis
armament expert; Ferdinand L. Mayer,
counselor of the embassy at Brussels; !;
Samuel Reber, jr., charge d'affaires at
Monrovia, capital Of Liberia, and Lieut..
Col. George V. Strong, War Department
adviser, continue to represent the United
States in the disarmament commissions
OF the League of Nations.
But these commissions are suddenly
slowing down amid technical difficulties
again, while the rest of the American
representatives. namely. Norman H.
Davis, Allen w. Dulles, New York law
yer. and Rear Admiral Arthur H. Hep
burn-all concerned with the Disarma-
ment Conference.-The wondering wheth-
er to gather in London next week for
Ofdcial conversations or whether to re-
turn to Geneva for more negotiations
Davis has gone to London, planning
discussions with Macdonald and Sir
John Simon, British foreign minister
The League plan for Liberia is stalled
pending the arrival of Harvey Fire
stone in Geneva, if, indeed. he finally
accepts the Leagues invitation at all.
SudCO Il ian SuSpcHOcu
The League plan to send an inquiry
commission to the Gran Chaco. just as
1t did in Manchuria, is suspended by
the sudden realization that the United
States and the Latin American neutrals
have already vainly tried to get Bolivia
and Paraguay to agree to a similar
step.
Discussions on the Manchurian crisis
have been put off until November IT.
The Preparatory Committee for the
Economic Conference is scheduled to
meet in Geneva November /, but there
is rumor that it may be transferred to
London, where the conference itself
eventually will be held.
MacDonald's rival, Arthur Henderson,
president Of the Disarmament Confer
ence. is expected back in Geneva for
the next meeting Of the conference bu-
reau Monday. but the rumor now Is
that this meeting Is likely to be put
off until November because it would be
useless otherwise.
Naval talks are still expected in Lon
don next week. but whether they will
be merely Anglo American or include
all five naval powers nobody at Geneva
seems to know.
The British initiative in trying to
drew the German claims problem away
from Geneva has aroused bitter feeling
here. France prefers Geneva. and so dc
most of the other continental countries
except possibly Italy and Germany The
little countries see in MacDonald's in
vitation another slap in the face Of the
same sort they feel Mcdonald gave
them by sighting them in the Lausanne
reparations conference.
France, if it goes to London at all,
will go reluctantly and will wish to in
olude Poland. Belgium and Czechoslo-
vakia in the conversations. But this
idea Great Britain dislikes and Ger
many refuses Whether a compromise
can be arranged is still uncertain