NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE Lcague of Nations Assembly has opened unsen- sationally, but. there are sensations and potential sensations enough in the world to rob statesmen of any particular desire to see their number increased. In Mr. Sandler of Sweden the Assembly has elected its first Socialist President, but no more significance attaches to :hat than to the choice of Mr. Henderson three years ago ds Chairman of the Disarmament Conference. The election of Russia to the League with a permanent seat on the Council seems assured, though it has not been actually achieved as these words are written. Grounds for objecting to Russia's admission are easy to find for those who seek them, but it is manifest that on any broad view both the League and the world will be better off, to say nothing of Russia itself, if that great nation is associated in constant co-operation with the rest of Europe than if it is left isolated, suspected and suspicious. On balance the ease for Russia's admission is conclusive. With pro- blems like Austria and the Saar still confronting it the League has severe tests before it in the immediate future,. bat there are signs that the pessimism which prevailed six months ago is dispersing, and the entry of Russia will give a new impulse towards the restoration of confidence. Whatever its immediate fortunes the League is as indis- Pea sable an element in the modern world as it has ever been.
