Half way through the delegates
dozed off. overcome by the intense
heat. From tifree amplifiers at differ
ent sides of the hall, the president's,
speech was reproduced in three dis
tinctly separate tones. It was not
enormously eloquent. It was no mas
terpiece of oratory, and yet in sim
plicity and frankness it was an im
pressive message to the world. While
disclaiming all oflicial optimism, tie re
buked misplaced pessimism and tin
justified c riticism of the skeptics, who,
be said with irony, are rarely capable
of any solid achievement in our dis
tracted s*cruet> cci c,| bringing human
ity a step forward in the path which
leads to a better future.
Net it must be admitted that in his
survey of the last year's work of
the League ’he President had to ad
mit—and frankly admitted—partial
failure. Not much progress has been
made by the committees on disarma
ment. opium or abolition of import
and export prohibitions. The work of
European reconstruction has gone on
well in Austria and Hungary and
among the refugees in Greece. Those
tasks are accomplished. Various dis
putes Which may have ltd to war.
notab • frontier incidents between
Greece and Bulgaria, have been set
tled by League intervention. Above all,
an the Piesident justly claimed, it was
League Ideals and pledges which
enabled Fiance. Germany and Great
Britain to formulate the pact of Lo
carno, which will be ratified during
this assemble, new that Germany has
become a membei of the League He
claimed that every provision of thtit
pact, with its commission of concilia
tion. arbitration and submission to an ;
International Court of Justice, fulfills
>h«> spirit and purpose of the League.
Holies for Seating Plan.
