THE GENOA CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 8

THE GENOA CONFERENCE.

FATE OF ITS DECISIONS. HJTEBVIEW WITH LEAGUE OF NATIONS OFFICIAL. (specially wbittsn pob "thb press.") (By Mrs Julian Grande.) GENEVA, April 20. Although the League of Nations has neither part nor lot directly in the Genoa Conference, yet, except Germany, Russia, and Hungary, all Governments represented there are League At the headquarters in ' Geneva the' secretarial staff are naturally watching the trend of Genoa discussions not merely with the interest felt by everyone, but with the attention of those

who feel they may be called upon to over and complete the work done in tho Italian city. Several members of the League staff, moreover, are at Genoa, either as advisers or observers. I have been questioning a leading official of the League about the possibility of its having to finish what the Genoa Conference has begun. I asked,

for instance: "If the Genoa decisions were referred to the League of Nations to be carried out or further discussed, how could this be done?" "To answer that question," replied the high official whom 1 osked, "would need an understanding of the whole League organisation. One fact must never be forgotten—that the League of Nations is nothing but an association of Governments, which have voluntarily accepted certain general obligations with regard to their conduct and procedure, bo as to make it easier tor Governments geuerally to co-operate in international matters. At present fifty-one States belong to the League, which, I cannot too much insist, is after all only the Governments composing it. Apart from them, it has no existence, and it is their instrument, while the members of the permanent secretariat are their servants, whose business it is to prepare for conferences, and provide means for the deliberations of Governments being discussed at subsequent conferences or supply any statistics or other information which may be required. This permanent organisation obviates the need for special organisations for special conferences, and is probably more economical, as it has experience of the work it undertakes. Moreover, it acts as a central clearing house for all kinds of information, so that the subjects to be covered by any given conference can be generally prepared for, instead of each State taking part being obliged to collect its own information. "Any Genoa decisions falling within the scope of the League's work could simply be. passed on to it, and supposing there were differences of opinion about the enforcement of measures determined upon, then the Permanent Court of International Justice would be available, both for League members and non-members. . "The League might even be asked to summon more conferences, to continue \ the work of Genoa, in which case the Governments would appoint their own delegates, and be quite free to have the same delegates to represent them as they had at Genoa—that is, if they .wished. At such conference non-mem-i bers of the League might attend on a footing of complete equality with members, which would be quite in accordance with precedent. "Again, one particular Government belonging to the League might summon a conference and invite any States it pleased,, as Poland did in the case of the recent European - Anti-Epidemic Conference at Warsaw. In this case tne League secretariat would prepare tor and organise the Conference, which would, however, be entirely independent of the League, as is tho Genoa Conference.

Ihe League, in fact," said this secretarial official, "is by no means the hard and fast organisation which it is often supposed to be. .It acts only in accordance with what the Governments have decided in conference, while the sovereignty of each'individual Government is lully preserved. Nor is it an automatic short cut to settlements difficult to reach by ordinary diplomacy, although it was created to facilitate international settlements, and it is a form of diplomitic procedure organised on a basis botli international and continuous."

Asked what would be the actual method of procedure of the League, were i: to he entrusted with following up and completing the work of the Genoa Conference, tht reply was: "The most widely known League organs are of course 'the Council and the Assembly—the former consisting of eight League members, four permanent and four temporary,' and the latter of all League members. It would probably be through the Council that most work would be done. In general, the decisions of both must be unanimous, but the unanimity rule has never been found a hindrance to the work of the League any more, than it was a hindrance to thaz of the Washington Conference, for instance. "In carrying out the Genoa decisions, also, the different technical organisations of the League should certainly be of much use 'Jnesi technical departments deal with finance, economics, transit, health, etc, They are really special departments of the League, organised on similar principles, but each dealing with cue subject only." "Hew could the diliicuity be overcome of several countries represented at' Genoa net being League members:"' 1 asked.

"The Covenant definitely provides for the admission of new spates .to League membership, and a country may be represented on technical committees without being a full League member. At both the Finance and Passport Conferences, in Brussels and Tans, German delegates attended, exactly in the same way as other delegates. At Brussels, indeed, there were nine States taking part, including Germany, Bulgaria, Austria and Hungary, who were not Jveague meml>ers. At the Barcelona Traasin and Communications Conference Crerman delegates attended, but did not voto on the conventions; and Germany also took part in the Conference concerning the non-fortification and neutralisation of the Aaland Islands. As lor the International Labour Office, a j branch of the League virtually, GerI many has belonged to it from the be- | ginning." I then asked: "What about the United States? "Information reaching us from ivarious quarters," was Iho answer, "shows that che public there is beginning to understand the constitution of the | League- of Nations better, and we should I not be surprised if before long there , were a movement in favour of America joining it. From the very first the League Covenant has been misunderstood and misundei standing is the great enemy with which most, institution? have to contend. How many peo- J p!e, for instance, realise that the ; League of Nations is what I have des- j cribed it as being? I repeat, that once | the American public understands its . true character, and the nature of its j procedure, it will gladly join Pur councils and help the other nations preserve j the peace and increase the prosperity of , the world."