THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS: At Geneva

A subcommission, under the chairmanship of brilliant Dr. Eduard Benes, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, labored furiously to evolve a plan of arbitration, security and disarmament that would be acceptable to all Powers. Spade work over and final touches made, the subcommission made its report to the Permanent Disarmament Commission.

In general terms, the findings of the subcommission proposed compulsory arbitration, outlawry of aggressor nations, as provided by the Bliss-Shotwell Plan (TIME, June 30). "Aggressor nations" were defined as those who decline to submit external disputes to the Permanent Court of International Justice or the Council of the League of Nations (constituted as courts of arbitration), or those who fail to carry out the decisions of the courts of arbitration. In the event of a nation embarking upon aggressive warfare in defiance of the aforesaid decision, the signatory Powers of the protocol (to the Covenant of the League) are to engage to participate in enforcing naval, military or economic sanctions (punitive measures) against the nation declared the aggressor. The territory and political and economic independence of an aggressor nation are always to be respected. Thus the world status quo is to be maintained, and it is therein that security is to be guaranteed.

The sanctions are to be enforced under a system of regional agreements. Thus, trouble from Hungary would affect only the States in that region. Any country, member or nonmember of the League, may sign the protocol by giving notice to the League Council.

One important change in the Covenant was proposed. Article XII* is to be amended. The first sentence is to end "and they agree in no case to resort to war, except in repelling attack." The whole protocol was subordinated to the question of disarmament which is to be thrashed out at an international conference to be held at Geneva on June 15, 1925.

The protocol will not come into force until after the disarmament conference has met. On the other hand, the conference will not be convened until a sufficient number of States has ratified the protocol. Therefore, if ratifications are not forthcoming, there will be no conference and the protocol will be canceled.

Matters which came before the Assembly :

¶ The principality of Monaco, a tiny country embedded in the French Riviera, eight square miles in area, sounded the League on how its application for membership would be received. "Too small," said the League. Said Arthur Brisbane, Hearst editor:

"Every time the League invites this country to come in, the United States should answer: "No, thanks, we are too big."

¶ After hearing an eloquent plea from Henry Morgenthau, ex-U. S. Ambassador to Turkey, on behalf of Greek refugees from Asia Minor, now practically destitute, the League decided to increase a loan to Greece from 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 pounds.

¶ Swedish representatives moved that an international commission of experts be convened as a preliminary step in the study of the codification of international laws. The motion was passed.

¶ The Permanent Disarmament Commission was charged with making a study of characteristic features of trade in arms and munitions of war.