LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 71, 24 March 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

AN ESSENTIAL FACTOR

IN THE PEACE TREATY.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT VIEW.

(Received 5.40 a.m.)

LONDON, March 23

Lord Robert Cecil, addressing a Press dek-gat.on, said that scarcely a day passed in the Peace negotiations without the ir "° ° f - Nation ' i topping up. If the League wore an essential element in the pacification of the world the sooner It got together the better. He looked with great fear on any attempt to postpone us operation. He did not think inclusion of tiie covenant would involve any delay in the peace preliminaries. \ uennite concrete covenant had already produced some ambiguities which could be remedied. He did not believe any prolonged consideration would remove ail ambiguities from the document. The view that the covenant should form part or tlio peace preliminary was the view of the British Government.

lie believed the Monroe doctrine would be strengthened l,y the League War left the United State, in a position of enormous power, comparable with that of England after the Napoleonic wars. Croat responsibility lay with America She could not afford to say she would refuse to interest herself in" what went on in the world without being false to her responsibilities. There had been some criticism over Britain's representation on the League, but the Dominions desired representation in order to properly bring forward matters of import- to them, rather than have them voiced by the British Government.—i A. and NZ. Cable.) An American correspondent asked Lord Robert Cecil whether the Japanese plea for racial equality would be considered. The British delegate replied that, however much one might sympathise with the principle of raciai equality, one cannot insert any such principle in the League without interfering with the international affairs o f the countries affected. The principle of non-interfer-ence had been carefully guarded throughout the League discussions. That would be the British delegation's answer to the Japanese.

A later message states that the Japanese delegation has informed Mr. Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George that it withdraws the demand that the League guarantees the abolition of racial discrimination. The Japanese will agree to join the League, but will re>erve the right to bring up the racial question at any time. ( L'nited Service.)

DOMINIONS AND THE "LEAGUE,

NOT READY .TO INTERVENE

SAVE IN BRITAIN'S QUARRELS. PARIS, Man-li 2.1. Sir P.obert Borden, Canadian delegate to the Peace Conference, submitted to the British dv legation a memorandum emphasising that the overseas Dominions do not feel it incumbent on them as partners in the League of Nations to take the responsibility of intervening and helping to decide differences between European nations where the British Kmpire is not involved directly. Sir Robert Borden did not consult Australia, but it is understood that the United States supports him.

Mr. YV. M. Hughes poin'-. out that the fact that Australia has not acted so far does not mean that Australia differs from the Canadian attitude-

Sir Robert Burden's amendment is understood to be intended to apply to Monroeism.

The Paris correspondent of the "New York Times" learns from a reliable source that the covenant of the League of Nations probably will not be an integral part of the preliminary treaty of peace, but will be attached to it a = an appendix.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

WILL SIGN WITHOUT HAGGLING. GERMANY AND THE TREATY. (Received 10.00 a.m.) NF.W YORK. March 22. Senator I. L. Leuroot, in the? course of a speech yesterday, said time if President Wilson did not negotiate a peace treaty satisfactory to the American people, Congress undoubtedly would independently declare that a war with Germany had terminated. The first anti-League, of Xations eourie rsent to France to voice views of those opposed to the inclusion of the League of Nations in the Peace Treaty will leave for Europe ir. a few days. The New York ••World's"' Washington official correspondent states that the circles believe the League of Xutions' covenant will not be included in the preliminary peace with Germany. President Wilson's message to Secretary Tumulty, stating that the Plenary t'ouniil had decided that the covenant will be part of the Peace Treaty, is understood in mean that the covenant will only be included in the final treaty. The "New York World's" Paris correspondent says: "The Anjrlo-Arnerieaii Food Delegates, whn returned from Brussels, told mc their impresr-ion was that Germany will eign the Treaty without haggling, hoping to lie permitted to have an opportunity to pay damages to the Allies, and then allowed to develop their own industries and trade. 1 can say authoritatively that the Fx-onomie Commission wil! almost certainly favour the complete abandonment of blockade restrictions immediately peace is signed.The New York "Times"' Paris correspondent says Wilson is now considering the disposition of the surrendered Oγman fleet. It is understood his advices favour its destruction for the following reasons: Destruction would be in accord with article eight of the covenant, pledgins the League of Xations to a general policy of disarmament: the addition of any part of the Herman fleet to the navies of Kuropenn Powers would mean that the United States would be compelled to increase its naval programme proportionately. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)