White Slave Traffic.—Certain work has also been done by the League in connection with the traffic in women and the protec tion of children. A convention was drawn up by the 1921 Assem bly strengthening in certain respects the provisions of two pre War conventions dealing with traffic and has been signed by 33 States. More important perhaps has been the effect on public opinion of an investigation conducted on a wide scale as to the conduct of the traffic in many countries. The attention attracted by the report of this investigation seems likely to have a consid erable effect upon policy. The problem is also being studied by one of the two committees of the Commission for the protection and welfare of children and young people, which includes representa tives of voluntary organisations and makes annual recommenda tions to the Assembly. The study of child welfare is undertaken by the child welfare committee of this commission.
Apart from this general work the League took direct practical measures in 1921 to rescue, and where possible restore to their own people, women captured and removed from their homes during the military operations in the Near East, houses of refuge being established at Constantinople and Aleppo. Lastly, in 1923, the League arranged a conference at which a convention was drawn up to assist in the suppression of the international traffic in obscene publications.
Prof. Gilbert Murray and including among its other members Prof. Einstein and Madame Curie.
Under Article 24 of the Covenant some international bureaux established by convention must be, and others may be, brought under the League. Four such organisations have now been affili ated, viz.: a relief bureau (for the repatriation of distressed persons), a hydrographic bureau (to secure co-ordination in hy drographic work), an office for the control of liquor traffic in Africa and a committee for air navigation. The question of closer relations with the Institute of Agriculture at Rome is now under discussion. The League issues a handbook giving information about some 36o international organisations and a quarterly bulletin giving some account of their work. Limits of space have for bidden an account of much of the work of the League, among which may be mentioned the convention on the traffic in arms, a Press Conference, and the work now in progress on the codifica tion of international law.
The decision of Germany to enter the League, after the Locarno agreement, marked a stage of the first importance in the develop ment of the League. Hitherto the Council had included no bellig erent in the World War except those on the Allied side, and the League itself only those of secondary power. It was of course understood that Germany's entry would and should be simul taneous with her election as a permanent member of the Council. The whole balance of forces and interests which finds its expres sion in Council decisions would necessarily, and rightly, be changed. The distinction between permanent and non-permanent members on the Council, however, had aroused some jealousy, and the election of Germany was taken as the occasion for putting forward claims to a permanent seat for Spain, Poland and Brazil (and later China). These claims were not accepted, but they led to considerable constitutional changes. The Council was enlarged to 14, Germany being added to the permanent members, and the non-permanents being raised from 6 to 9. It was arranged that the non-permanent members should normally have a tenure of 3 years, three retiring each year on a rotation system; but it was provided that three members may, by a two-thirds majority of the Assembly, be accorded a longer tenure. This provision did not satisfy Spain and Brazil, who gave notice of withdrawal from the League. The former cancelled the notice before the expiration of the statutory two years and therefore remains a member, but Brazil's withdrawal took effect in June 1928.