Evening star., 1944-10-13
French District Of Gex
Mentioned as Seat Of
Peace Organization
By PERTINAx.

| WIClC Will bilc OIuLcu NdtlUtlS-
lthe general organization for the
maintenance of peace and security
have their headquarters? The prob
lem was not touched on in the re-
cent conference at Dumbarton Oaks.
1t was even sedulously avoided.
But knot of important men,
among them officials formerly In
the service Of the old League Of Ma
tions, have made it their business
to have Geneva confirmed in its
status of international metropolis.
And they seem in fair way of win
ming the approval OF the United
States Government.
The plan they put forward is Of a
most extraordinary nature. 1t en-
dows the new league with a terrific
rial domain-the French district of
Gex (traditionally called "the Pays
de Gex'o and an outlet to the Lake
of Geneva across Swiss territory.
The district of Gex borders onl
Switzerland a short distance from
the lake, not more than four or
five kilometers. The little city oil
Gex is planned to be set apart for
the council of security" while the
social and economic council, thel
council of food and agriculture, theI
international labor Office and others
are to be housed in the palaces
built some 10 years ago on the
shore of the lake or in the new
buildings on the hills behind.
The federal council in Bern is ex-l
pected to contribute to the scheme
by letting out stretch of land. a
corridor" extending from the dis
trict of Gex to the palaces. If
necessary, tunnel would be bored
in the neighborhood of the Col de
la Faucille. That would make for
a snug little kingdom all in one
piece.
Switzerland Reticent.
But why that complicated ar
The answer is that the
Swiss governpent is unlikely to
enter the new organization for the
of peace and security.
The Swiss government will un-
doubtedly find that it savors too
much of a military alliance, that
military action looms too conspicu-
ously in its program. Switzerland's
vindicated once more in
this war, could hardly survive in the
setup
In 1920 Switzerland applied for
in the old League Of
Nations and was conceded special
terms. But, in 1888, on the morrow
of the Abyssinian crisis, Switzer-
land chose to withdraw. This time,
it may be foreseen that she will
keep aloof and will not even deem
1t possible to allow the council of
security to meet on her soil 7
For that reason, the promoters of
the project had to bring in the
district of Gex But it is not so
easy to understand how an entire
French district with some $4,000
can be of real use to
the United Nations. The promoters
contend that the security council
with its annex services, political
and military. is sure to cram that
area with its requirements.
The French provisional govern
ment may or may not think it con-
sonant with the national interest |
to agree to the plan. At any rate,
it would insist that national SOW
ereignty be not seriously interferedI
with on the hired territory. |
Britain Noncommital.
The British government, so far,
has refrained from committing itself
although Anthony Eden, last year,
was adverse to the selection Of
Geneva because of the unpleasant
associations that very name con-
notes.
Russia is reported to favor either |
Prague or Vienna. The Moscow
government has an old account to
settle with Switzerland. 1t never
forgets that it's plenipotentiary,
Vorovsky, was aSsassinated in
Lausanne, % years ago, and that, in
Geneva, Russia was turned out Of
the old League at the end of 1899.
However, Switzerland is about to re-
sumo the long suspended diplomatic
intercourse with Moscow and prob
ably to satisfy all Russian monetary
claims in relation to the Vorovsky
drama. And for the United Nations
to look around all over Europe for
headquarters Is rather
experience.
Extravagant spending of money ut |