Evening star., 1935-02-18
DEBATE ON LEAGUE
ST|RS TOWN HALL
KaIterborn and Sokolsky
Questioned Sharply
by Panel.
Lively conflict Of opinion last night

Lively conflict Of opinion last night
characterized the Town Hall debate
at the Shoreham Hotel on the ques-
ton: Should the United States Enter
the League Of Nations?"
Not only was there sharp difference
between the affirmative argument,
presented by H. v. Kaltenborn. news
editor of the Columbia Broadcasting
System, and the negative by George
E. Sokolsky, former editor of the
North China Star, but the spirited
contest struck off more sparks when
questioning started from the panel of
six men and women.
Kaltenborn, in serious and digni-
fled presentation, declared the world
now was more international" than
ever. in finance, economics, and
trade, with threats of war in the
off1ng. The League, he said. was
mans greatest agency of interna-
tional Cancellation" with growing
prestige and power, designed for the
two primary purposes of promoting
peace and preventing war. The -four
pillars" of American principles named
by Secretary of State Hull, renuncia-
tion of war, non-aggreSsion, consul
tation among powers, and co-opera-
ton among powers, Kaltenborn de-
clared, were all definitely part of the
League program.
Deplores U. S. Stand.
The chief fault of the League, Kali
tenborn said, is that 1T is too weak"
AF Ia Oh of cfr
nations from the organization.
In practically every activity of the
League. he said, the United States
already was playing its part through
unofficial observers" who were run
ming the show much more effectively
than most of the official delegates"
He deplored the absence of the United
States from the League, however, and
asked how much longer this country
would "stupidly, blindly' hold to the
arrogant spirit of supernationaliSm.
He pointed to many results of the
League.
Sokolsky warned that if the United
States joined the League this country
would be in a war in the Pacific in
1936-over the inundated islands. He
charged certain League officials with
intrigue, trickery and corruption" in
the Far Eastern situation, especially
in China.
Sees Lure in League.
The only reason why other powers
want the United States in the League,
Sokolsky cl.imed, was to use Amer
jooo ,,oo,,o,, opd ,1ouar opJ cfrapUth
Ito fight for them"
The most serious problem faced
today by the American people, he
said, is the conflict between demo-
cratic capitalistic systems of govern
ment, on the one hand, and Com
munist relationships and Fascist die
tatorships on the other.
Actually" he declared, "we've
got to fight them to see they don't
destroy us. If necessary, we must
use military force"
Sokolsky's charge that the Leagues
work has failed was secuted by Kali
tenborn as "pessimistic nonsense"
Answering Sokolsky's charge of 'in-
trigue" against officials of the League,
Kaltenborn upheld the devotion" of
these officials to their ideals, and on
learning that Sokolsky had never
been in Geneva, declared that such
charges were mot within the purview
of the right kind of debate"
Morley Challenges Sokolsky.
Felix NJ Morley, editor of the
Washington Post, a member of the
panel, called Sokolsky to task on the
issue Of a certain League officials
presence in China, asking the debater.
Didn't you know the Nanking gov
eminent asked the League of Nations
to send technical assistance to
China?" Sokolsky said China had re-
sented this officials presence, and he
and Morley were speaking of a differ
ent period.
Il am glad to have you admit"
said Morley, "the League was cooper
ating at Chinese requests"
Frank Simonds, foreign editor Of
Review of Reviews, contrasting con-
quest in. Asia before and after the
League, got Kaltenborn to say that
Geneva will be powerful to act when
leading powers cooperate" But, the
debater said. unfortunately Great
Britain and France have bad con-
sciences" regarding Africa.
Senator James Pinckney Pope,
member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, took strong exception to
a charge by Sokolsky that the resolu-
ton of American cooperation with
the international labor office had
been put through the Senate in the
closing hours of a session when no
body was looking"
Opium Traffic Debated.