The League and Economics
The presence in London of Dr. Colijn, the former Prime Minister of Holland, and his conversations with Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Halifax and other British Ministers, are signs of the importance attached to the new League of Nations Central Committee, which is to concentrate or economic and humanitarian work, leaving the political side to the Council as at present. The memorandum on econo- mic reconstruction brought to Europe by Mr. Sumner Weller from Mr. Cordell Hull further emphasises the new com- mittee's possibilities, the more so since membership of the committee is open to non-members of the League of Nations, and therefore to the United States. It is unlikely that the Administration would choose a Presidential year for actually joining the committee, since some isolationists might take exception to the step, but there is no reason why the United States should not ultimately become as completely a part of the new body as it already is of the International Labour Organisation. Meanwhile, it seems probable enough that if the Central Committee discusses the American memorandum, as it almost inevitably will, an American representative will be present informally to explain the American State Depart- ment's views. There can be no effective political organisation of the world, or even of Europe, in present conditions The reason for proceeding with such economic organisation as is possible is all the greater.
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