LEAGUE AND PEOPLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9875, 24 July 1923, Page 5

LEAGUE AND PEOPLE

OPENNESS OF THE WORK,

RED TAPE FROM NEW ZEALAND.

ANSWER TO SIR F. D. BELL.. (Per Press Association, Copyright^. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) GENEVA, July 23. Marquis Theodoli, opening the third session of the Mandates Commission, said he had observed, especially in a statement by Sir Francis Bell (New Zealand), certain apprehension, even displeasure, in connection with the Avork of the Permanent Mandates Commission. Sir Francis Bell objected to the fact that the commission’s report Avas addressed to the public and not to the Council of the League. On this point he thought there Avas misunderstanding, which .should be reamoved but from which one might draw guidance for the future. There was

no doubt that, being under the terms of the Covenant as an advisory board to the Council, they had no other duty than to submit their observations to the Council on reports from the Mandatory Powers. “It would be regrettable,” he said, “that our enquiries carried out in a spirit of goodwill and the highest impartiality, should not be* made known to the public. It wouldl be desirable that th?--Commission meet early enough to permit the Council to consider its observations, before communicating them to the Assembly. Satisfaction would thhs be given both to the legitimate wishes of New Zealand and to the general desire that the Assembly should be in possession of the Commission’s reports and observations in good time.