THE LEAGUE'S RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 15

THE LEAGUE'S RECORD

MANY ACHIEVEMENTS

BOTH SIDES OF THE CASE

Inquiry in almost any group shows a large percentage who—without being able to document their opinion —believe the League of Nations has been discredited in theory as well aa in practice, says the "Christian Science Monitor." Many are ready to state without reservation that Geneva has failed more than it has succeeded. Yet an objective examination of the facts disclosed a preponderance, of successes. Moreover, most of the socalled failures are really borderline cases where some progress has been made. The charge of failure often arises from a lack of precise knowledge, or from a non-realistic hope. The hold of age-long maladjustments has been underestimated, and League power—as at present limited by the State Sovereignty—overestimated. Finally, it is frequently overlooked that the League -is only what its members choose to make it. However great its potentialities for peace, they cannot be fully realised until States utilise its procedures to the height of their possibility. ACHIEVEMENTS. Peace has been kept in post-war Europe, largely through League settlement of inflammatory disputes. Czech-Polish Frontier.—July 28, 1920. Conference of Ambassadors fixed frontier in Jaworzina region. Czechoslovakia protested. League Council settled dispute. Poland-Lithuania. — September 5, 1920, Poland appealed to Council to avert war with Lithuania, October 7, 1920, parties agreed to maintain neutrality. Albania. —June 21, 1921, protested to Council that Greek and Serv-Croat-Slovene troops were in Albanian territory. League Commission maintained till 1923, 'When need had passed. Aaland Islands. —Sweden and Finland disputed sovereignty over inhabitants. League negotiated settlement by convention of April 6, 1922. Upper Silesia. — German - Polish boundary convention, June 3, 1922. Greece-Italy.—ltalian Commissioner murdered in Greek territory while determining Greco-Albanian frontier. Rome made demands, then occupied Greek island of Corfu. Greece appealed to Council, September 1, 1923. Parties accepted settlement. Mem el.—Lithuania refused terms of city's transfer by Conference of Ambassadors. Council convention, May 18, 1924, provided transfer acceptable to Lithuania. Greece-Bulgaria.—October 22, 1925, Bulgarian appeal to League in border clash. Acting President Briand of Council telegraphed parties to withdraw troops until Council had met. They did, 2k hours before battle to open, December 7, report before Council, providing Greek indemnity to Bulgaria. Accepted by parties. War averted. Irak.—Turkey and Great Britain failed to agree on boundary under Treaty of Lausanne. Heferred to "Council, 1924. Dispute settled, December 16, 1925. ■' Leticia. — Colombia-Peru boundary dispute. Leticia given to Colombia, May 20, 1934. Saar.—Plsbiscite under League auspices, January 13, 1935, with international police force, decided rich industrial territory's return to . Germany. Disorder or possible war averted on one of thorniest post-war problems. REVERSES AND DELAYED PROJECTS. It is blatant to call all League activities failures on which substantial progress has not yet been made. The following are major reverses or delayed projects:— Vilna.—Seized from Lithuania by Poland during armistice arranged by League. Poland has kept city. Frontier animosity persists. Manchuria.—Japan defied League to seize Manchuria. But League condemned this action in resolution of February 24, 1933, keeping its principles intact. Chaco.—League efforts in the Chaco conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay were hampered by regional loyalties. Paraguay refused its peac i formula and resigned from the League I on February 23, 1935. The present!, truce and peace conference at Buenos! Aires were arranged by the United! States, Chile, and Argentine, after/ many previous failures by American/ States. Disarmament.—l 927, Geneva navajl conference fails. 1932 To Date.—General Disarmament Conference (including no/nLeague members) comes to virjtVial standstill. Chief reason Japanese occupation of Manchuria, 1931-32; Germany's last withdrawal from conference, Orttober 14, 1933; German re-armament; this year; failure to resolve political problems on which disarmament depends. Economic Collaboration.—l92GJ, Geneva Economic Conference . makes small advances, but fails in ma.jor objective when Governments w?:fuse to lower tariff walls, as proposed. 1933. —London Economic Conference, similar outcome, Devaluation, of United States dollar prevented currency stabilisation, a major aim. Unknown to the. general public the League quietly performs/ countless social services on a world Scale. Even if the peacemaking procenfoires broke down irreparably, social I workers everywhere would undoubtedly unite to continue the League's endeavours, in behalf of women arvd children, labour, refugees, and others. It is constantly at work against the opium traffic and similar international abuses.

"Complexions" injected under the skin are fashion's lat/a;t fancy. The effect is said to last (for upwards of 20 years.