THE LEAGUE AND PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20806, 16 March 1933, Page 12

THE LEAGUE AND PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS.

TO THE KUITOB OT TH R PRSS3. Sir,—l shall be obliged if you can find space to print the accompanying letter which I sent not long ago to the. Secretary-General of the League of Mations. "The Secretary-General, the League of Nations, Geneva. "Dear 3ir,-~Kccently I forwarded to you a money-order which I hope you will accept as a small gift direct to the league, to bo used in any way you think tit. My object in doing so was twofold; first, to satisfy myself that I am prepared to do something to support the league in its always difficult tasks; and second, to raise the question with you whether or not the financial regulations of the league permit the* acceptance Of donations from nongovernmental (3tate) sources. While I am aware that very large gifts, made by individuals or groups, particularly if they are in the form of bonds or real estate located in member or non-mem-ber states, could prove very embarrassing to the league, and might even create serious dissension, nevertheless, I think that the assembly or some other competent body should, if it has not already done so, affirm the principle here involved and leaving the actual

decisions to the discretion of a suitable committee. I would like to be informed if, to your knowledge, anyone lias bequeathed money or property to the league. Have any governments or judicial authorities decided that a will of this sort is legally valid? Has the league, as a corollary, decided that oven if it is not yet a state, it has an equivalent corporato existence such as would permit it to be a possible beneficiary'? I imagine that decision on these points, if it has not already been made, cannot be postponed much longer. Yet it is obvious that difficulties likely to lest the vitality of the league will probably arise. For example, a government, especially in these days, might prohibit the transfer of money and property to the league. Again, with adequate resources, certain policies inconvenient to member states supersensitive about questions of sovereignity which, liecause of the league's poverty, are not brought forward at ail, might become practically possible and therefore demand serious discussion and open alignment. "A state or not a. slate? Supersovereignty or none at all? Compromise fragments of both those opposit.es with theory dominated by practice? —I. see the wisdom and artistic value of hastening slowly and waiting always with patience, although the mere passage of time without initiatory pressures achieves nothing at all. My own little contribution is meant to be one of these initiatory stimuli. I hope to be able to interest mv friends in the same direction, also local branches of the League of Nations' Union, educators, perhaps the Government of this country, and, above all, the children and youth of our schools and colleges. Only by some such contact, I imagine, will they feel that it is their league, and establish a vital connexion between the two, without which, everywhere. T fear, the league will function only with difficulty. A sort of 'Protestantism' is springing up which is ready to claim direct access to what it regards as the highest object of its social allegiance. Juridically, I suppose, that claim has no standing as things are at present, but of course that cannot be the final word on such a matter. If I knew more about the league's relations with the city of Geneva I do not doubt that I wouid discover the embryo of the new order, freely admitted in practice and a little, perhaps, in theory also. I shall be very much obliged if you can see your way to inform me as precisely as possible, what direct contact, if any, a, citizen of a member or non-member state may have with the league, particularly in the way T have suggested. That the league has already sanctioned the use of funds given by Ihe "Rockefeller Trust for international health services J know, but I do not know how far the practices of the league In that instance have been held to be consistent with its constitution, and will be grateful for information on this point. In addition, any general guiding comments derived from your knowledge and experience of accepted procedures ,in the machinery of the league would lie welcomed. The general opinion in this country seems to be that the sole job of an individual well-disposed to the league ideal —there is no need ttf go into the meaning of that phrase —is to pay the taxation share and cultivate benevolence to the league within his own national boundaries; yet this fails to satisfy me, since, in my judgment, it is just at that sensitive linkage-point that the division between growth-suc-cess and growth-failure will always be found." —Yours, etc., It. E. ill LLIGAN. March 13, 1933.