Evening star., 1932-09-18
LEAGUE ASSEMBLY FACES .
BIG MASS OF PROBLEMS
Sino-Japanese Controversy Has Top Con.
sideration by Paraguay-Bolivia Trouble.
Many Others Are Up for 18th Session.

IdtJer Will also HnQ ltSelf the receptacle
into which most of its 50-odd members
will pour their domestic and interna-
tional troubles this year
The Irish Free State, for example
threatens to haul Great Britain before
the League on the land annuities ques-
ton. Although the English argue that
the League has no jurisdiction in dis
putes between members of the British
commonwealth, especially when Britain
is one OF the disputantS, the Free State
rightly holds that all members Of the
League are equal and that Ireland,
the same as France or Spain, has the
duty to use the machinery provided for
in the covenant. for settling interna-
tional disagreements. With Eamonn
De Valera. president Of the Free State,
scheduled to open the assembly and to
preside over the council, there will be
ample opportunity for the Irish to
twist the lions tail-to the embarrass-
ment both OF the British lion and the
League. Whether the League can be in
volved in the controversy over whether
or not good Irishmen have to take the
oath to help the British and God save
the King is another matter. The cove
nant. however, provides for readjust-
ment Of treaties which have become
inapplicable and which endanger
peace" The oath" is a part OF the
Anglo Irish treaty.
Trouble From Liberia.
Even little Liberia, one Of the Leagues
smallest and least important members,
is contributing 70 the assemblys trou-
bles. Caught red-handed enslaving its
native populations the benefit OF
the Portuguese, Spanish and French
colonial estates which needed cheap
Izl.- 10 7
disciplined By the council. The scan
dal was forced before the League on the
initiative Of the British, and with the
approval of Washington, which for
many years has been Liberals guardian
angel. Incidentally interests OF the
American Firestone Rubber Plantations
Co. were affected by the labor recruit
ing of the authorities.
Today, Liberia, to all intents and pur-
poses is a League administered colony.
Monrovia has protested vociferously
over a score of foreign experts conduct
ing her domestic affairs-collectlng
taxes. providing sanitation, etc. Yet
she has no alternative but to accept
advice" in regard to her administra-
tive affairs for an indefinite period.
Protecting the territorial integrity and
political sovereignty of one OF It's
members, while at the same time man
ifestly directing that country's destlnles
is one of those fine little diplomatic
distinctions which the League has TO
harmonic.
At least a half dozen countries will
come before the Assembly to solicit
financial and economic aid. Austria,
Hungary and Greece-all OF which have
been saved by the League before-are
again in difficulties, while Bulgaria al
ready is receiving assistance. Ruman1a
/ Is the latest to admit its finances are on
The verge of complete collapse. Esthonia
fears the worst and is seeking to hold
on for a while yet before accepting
League loan. In authoritative circles
it is rumored that Turkeys real reason
for applying for League membership
recently was to place herself in a more
favorable position should the necessity
arise for raising an international loan
in London or New York. The Leagues
Endorsement on promisory notes still
has a market value.
confront the Assembly, however, are
the internal ones. The League is as
near financial embarrassment as any
of its members. At the beginning OF
September less than so per cent OF the
yearly dues of it's members had been
paid Several states are many annual
installments behind. The German
government, III ltlc SdulC bACoeA "ASAA
which 1t demands the right to spend
millions of marks on ornaments, an
nounces that it cannot pay its 1882
dues and offers to open a credit IN
Berlin through which the League can
purchase supplies" instead. China mas
offered to clear up her back dues OF
100000 or more in 20 annual install
ments. Several revolution-torn Latin
American and South American states
fot, treasurer
entirely. The Leagues 1882 budget was
for $6, 1885. .600-about one-sixth the cost
of a irst-class battleship. Its 1888 bud
get will be 5000 900 less despite the fact
that its activities have increased and Its
staff work almost doubled. To carry
on at Geneva the nations Of the world
need but to reduce their collective ex-
penditure on ornaments about one
tenth Of per cent and apply the saw
ings to the cause Of international CO.
operation.
Reorganizing Secretariat.
While the financial difficulties are
embarrassing. the problem OF reor-
ganizing, the secretariat Is fraught
with far more dangerous potentlalities.
Secretary General Sir Eric Drummond
will definitely leave next May in order
to remain on the British foreign
Office roster. Since there will be no
| able at that time he will ask for a
years leave of absence, hoping for
designation TO Washington or Paris In
1884 With Drummond probably will
90 Yotaro Sugimura, japanese under
secretary general and Albert Dufour-
Feronce and Barone di Paolucci, Ger
man and Italian underSecretary gener-
ais respectively Only Joseph Avenol,
ErTil
Avenol has been second in command
heretofore and has directed affairs dur
ing Sir Eric's absence His chances OF
becoming secretary general are about
$3.50. II he is refused the post. he,
too. will resign. The selection OF H. B.
Butler, an Englishman, as director OF
the international labor office as sue
cessor to Albert Thomas, Frenchman.
makes it almost imperative that
Frenchman succeed Drummond at the
League. The smaller countries, how
ever, are clamoring for a break In the
alleged Franco-British domination OF
the League and have the support Of
Italy and Germany, so anything may
happen. 1t Is not impossible that an
| American candidate may be presented
to the Assembly, particularly if man
of the caliber of Newton Baker, Charles
Evans Hughes or Charles Dawes (all of
whom have been mentioned) were
available
The minor questions which the As
sembly will have before 1t are too nu-
merous to mention. They cover social,
economic, humanitarian, technical and
health problems-from the opium evil
to the white slave traffic. One of the
least complicated-yet most difficult-
is reviewing the preparations for the
proposed World Economic Conference.
A conflict between the League and the
Lausanne Conference powers over juris-
diction Is imminent. The admission
of Irak as the fifty-eighth member Of
the League may also cause trouble, al
of Irak as the fifty-eighth member OF
the Council and the mandatory power,
Britain.
Which prompts an optimistic obser-