Council Meeting

Secret Session. Rumors resounded in Geneva as the 46th session of the League of Nations Council began its business behind; closed doors. Most of them, however, were more concerned with the Assembly (see above) than with what the secret Council meeting was or was not doing.

Proposal. Seiler Enrique Villegas (Chile), President of the League Council, astounded Geneva when he virtually declared in a public session that he saw no reason why the League should not interest itself in Latin-American affairs. It was even thought that the League might be asked to settle the long outstanding Tacna-Arica dispute (TIME, June 21, 28, 1926). Said British Foreign Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain: "The League of Nations must become a reality, a personality in the eyes of the more distant nations belonging to it."

Jeremiah Smith. Jeremiah Smith Jr., Boston lawyer, onetime League Commissioner General for the Financial Rehabilitation of Hungary (TIME, May 12, 1924), was appointed a member of the Permanent Financial Committee.

Dispute. In a row between Greece and Bulgaria over the indemnification of refugees for property lost in the exchange of populations, both countries agreed to accept the Council's ruling to refer the matter to the Permanent Financial Committee. The indefatigable Sir Austen Chamberlain referred to the dispute as one "that might have disturbed the peace of the world" and added: "At a time when certain individuals are trying to underestimate the value of the services which the League can render, here is an example in which, thanks to the intervention of the League, the cause of peace has been served and friendship has been re-established between the two states concerned."

Other Business. Expression of sympathy to Rumania over the death of King Ferdinand (TIME, Aug. 1); consideration of press expert's report; review of Danzig fiscal program (Danzig is a Free City under the protection of the League), etc.