1939: League Of Nations

League Status Weakened.

From the Munich crisis of 1938, when the League of Nations was not even consulted in a matter in which two League members, yielding to the threats of a non-member, agreed to give away the greater part of a third member, to its unprecedented expelling of Russia from membership in December, 1939, the wonder is not so much at its enforced inactivity in political affairs, as that it survived at all and was alive to take action against Soviet Russia. Shorn of many members — Albania, Hungary, Peru and Spain resigned during 1939 — and the Council now reduced through Russia's expulsion to two permanent members, its political action has become very cautious, and its non-political activities have been severely handicapped by greatly diminished funds. Yet the League, living because it possesses a principle vital to peace, has upheld the cause of Finland. Greater participation along technical, social and economic lines affords a partial answer to its continued existence. In a note of Feb. 2 the Government of the United States praised its efforts, promising further collaboration.

The Council met Jan. 16-20, May 22-27, and Dec. 9-14. The regular September meetings of the Assembly and the Council were omitted because of the European War, but both bodies convened Dec. 9 to act upon Finland's appeal against Russia. The Assembly re-elected Bolivia to non-permanent membership in the Council and chose the Union of South Africa and Finland to succeed New Zealand and Peru.

Resolutions of the Council.

At its 104th meeting, in January, the Council adopted two resolutions: it recalled its previous recommendations to League members regarding China and took into account, without adopting, the Chinese appeal for sanctions against Japan and assistance to China; and it denounced bombing of civilian populations in Spain as either intentional or negligent, and condemned recourse to inhumane and illegal methods. The 105th session in May heard another appeal from the Chinese Government and again by resolution expressed its sympathy and urged members to aid China practically, and once more condemned Japanese bombing of civilians.

Fortification of the Aaland Islands.

As required by the Convention of 1921 for the Nonfortification and Neutralization of the Aaland Islands, the governments of Finland and Sweden reported to the Council their decision to refortify the islands on account of the present uncertainty in Europe. To this the other signatories to the convention formally agreed. Although Russia was not a party, it insisted that the Council delay action because it had not received sufficient information from Finland regarding either the purpose of fortification or the guarantee against an aggressor's occupying the islands. Thus the Council felt itself obliged to take no decision on the question. By December the Soviet had already attacked Finland, and the Aalands were, with Sweden's approval, fortified.

Organization for Technical Problems.

The Council on May 23 set up a committee for studying and reporting on the appropriate organization to ensure the development and expansion of the League's machinery for dealing with technical problems, and for promoting the active participation of all nations in such efforts. The committee in August submitted a comprehensive report. In phraseology, the committee has preferred to describe as 'economic and social questions' those matters usually referred to as 'technical problems,' in distinction to 'political problems,' because 'technical problems' are really political matters of internal importance. In the report the committee proposed a revision of this part of the League's existing organization by creating a new Central Committee for Economic and Social Questions, composed of the representatives of twenty-four states chosen by the Assembly and of not more than eight co-opted by the committee and appointed in a personal capacity for their special competence. One task for the committee is to study conditions for the fullest participation of all states in the social and economic work regardless of League membership. The committee will have very complete powers in all matters of procedure and supervision. What is hoped from this new departure is fresh efficiency and vigor in the work itself and greater co-ordination to meet the growing interconnection between different organizations.

Czechoslovakia and Albania.

Appeals to the League were received from Dr. Benes of Czechoslovakia (March) and King Zog of Albania (May) against forcible invasion of their respective countries. Since neither was then officially connected with these countries, the Council could communicate the protests only to members of the League.

Committee on Narcotics.

At its meeting in May the Advisory Committee on Opium and Dangerous Drugs discussed without action the situation in the Far East. The United States' Narcotics Commissioner reported the deterioration and alarming situation of drug control and trade caused by lack of Japanese cooperation in areas under their control and the consequent, enormous increase in drug addicts. Statistics showed the sale of opium as the second largest revenue-producing item in the budget of Manchuria. The Chinese delegate maintained that the Japanese Government was lax because it wished to secure revenues to pay for its invasion of China, to provide for undesirable Japanese and Koreans whom it desired to keep away from Japan, and to furnish means of weakening Chinese resistance. The United States in October pledged its continued assistance to the committee. With Turkey's ratification, the Convention of 1936, for the suppression of illicit traffic in dangerous drugs, went into force on Oct. 20.

Anglo-Palestine Situation.

Administration of the British mandate over Palestine furnished the principal discussion by the Permanent Mandates Commission at its thirty-sixth session, June 8-20. The British Colonial Secretary stated as British policy its definite conclusion that, since the main cause of the trouble lay in Arab fear of Jewish domination, the remedy must try to remove uncertainty for the future by limiting arbitrarily Jewish immigration to economic and political absorption in Palestine. Because the British Government had simultaneously to think of the passionate attitude of the Arabs and the carrying out of the Balfour Declaration regarding a Jewish national home, it must provide for a large degree of local autonomy in both Jewish and Arab provinces and for a central unitary or federal government in which Jews and Arabs should be officially associated and become accustomed to living side by side.

The Mandates Commission's report and the British reply were published on Aug. 17. The Commission unanimously agreed that the British policy of finding the present mandate unworkable since it could not reconcile Jewish and Arab aspirations, was out of accord with the terms of the mandate. By a nominal majority the Commission decided upon the advisability of a new interpretation of the mandate not at variance with the new policy. The chief difference between the Commission and the British Government was that the latter felt the political development of great importance in discharging its obligations as mandatory, while the Commission and the Council, disregarding the political background, seemed to concentrate on the interpretation of the mandate. According to a majority of the Commission, the British proposals for limiting Jewish immigration and for land settlement contravened the mandate's terms by providing inadequate safeguards for the Jews; they objected also to the proposed constitution for Palestine.

The British reply asserted that to continue a policy resulting in perpetual strife and enmity would defeat their obligation to place the country under the political, economic and administrative conditions necessary for developing a Jewish national home. Therefore, it had suggested limiting Jewish immigration and advancement towards a federal constitution. There the matter rested, pending a decision by the Council of the League.

Expulsion of Soviet Russia.

On Dec. 9 the Council heard the appeal of Finland under Articles XI and XVI against Russia for unprovoked aggression, amidst a considerable variety of views among members of the League. Some threatened to resign unless their views were followed; others feared the consequences of strong action against Russia. The Soviet definitely opposed presentation of the Finnish plea and refused to appear before the League. The Council referred the subject to the Assembly, which, after hearing Finland, appointed a committee of thirteen to report upon the appeal. The committee found that Russia had broken eight legal agreements which provided pacific settlement of disputes between the two states, and declared Russia the aggressor. It called on member states to lend all possible aid to Finland, offered League facilities for coordinating such help, and suggested that non-members be invited to cooperate. After hearing the views of many states, the Assembly adopted the report, as did the Council. The latter, accordingly, proceeded under paragraph 4 of Article XVI to declare that by its action the Soviet 'has placed itself outside the League of Nations. It follows that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is no longer a member of the League.' While several states abstained, there were no negative votes. The remaining step was to organize, through the Secretariat and expert services, immediate and practical aid for Finland on the widest possible scale. This is the first expulsion in the League's history. It deprives the organization of a major contributor of revenue at a time of budget difficulties. It supports with all the facilities of the League a small and weak state against a powerful aggressor. It represents a moral victory after many evidences of collapse. However fruitless to the League and Finland, that fact remains. See also PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE; WORLD PEACE.