Evening star., 1937-09-05
j. s. IS BIG JOINER
Of WORLD UNIONS
Has Not Isolated Itself De-
spite Absence From
Geneva.
8v the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, September Far
from isolating itself from world af-
fairs by membership in the
League of Nations, the United States
has been an "inveterate joiner" Of
international unions. treaties and
agreements, says DR.. Henry Reif1
The point was stressed in treatise
by DR.. Reiff, professor Of government
at the St. Lawrence University, Canton,
N. Y, published today by the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace as
its September international concilia-
ton document.
President Nicholas Murray Butler
OF Columbia University. who is presi-
dent OF the endowment. said in pref
ace The survey would be of great
value as a basis for the study OF the
foreign policy of the United States
Member Of 40 Unions.
TT is not generally known" wrote
DR. Relff, that the United States has
steadily participated in the process
of international legislation almost
Al VII iNS lbtClJlIpil, llldt IL Is IlOW q
member of about 40 international ad-
mlniStrative unions under treaty deal
Ing with various humanitarian, eco
nomlc and cultural topics: that since
1865 1t has perfected 80 or more gen.
eral agreements on such topics, and
that eoodly number of these agree
ments have been entered into without
fhe form ~
Senate thereto. The United States,
In short, is a veteran, if not an in
Veterate, joiner of unions or Leagues
Of Nations
He classed international agreements
In which the United States partici-
pates as treaties which are ap-
proved by the Senate. and executive
agreements which are not submitted
to the Senate. The former comprise
about Is per cent.
"Eschewing membership in the
League of Nations, the United States
nevertheless early participated in the
work of its administrative services"
DR.. Relf said. The United States
has perfected several treaties con-
cluded under League auspices and con-
trbuted toward the expenses of serv-
Ices and conferences in which it has
participated.
Formal treaty relationships with
the League = now exist through
the International Labor Organizatio
under the agreement to register
treaties with the secretariat and d.
rectly under certain provisions of
League-sponsored multipartite agree
ments ="
1O-Year Record Impressive
He called the American record" Of
the last 70 years impressive" and
said. The United States took real
initiative in relation to the establish
ment OF the universal unions in postal
matters, submarine cables, safety of
life at sea, and opium " = =. 1t early
proposed multlpartite arrangement
to conserve the fur seal fisheries = =.
II has taken preliminary steps to Sc
cure international regulat ton of the
Oil pollution of navigable waters and
encouraged the formation of
many OF the pan-American unions on
special topics
Although the Senate kept the United
States out of the League. he said it
has not unduly altered the admins
trative treaties submitted to it, and
With regard to the whole process of
perfecunR treaties. it has not. in gen.
eral, been obstructive -"
Regarding operation of agreements.
he said, There appears to have been
no great sacrifice OF American inter-
ests which has not been over -compen-
ssted by services rendered and benefits
derived under the unions"