THE LEAGUE AND MANKIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 40, 16 February 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE AND MANKIND.

A SAAR REGION REQUEST. LONDON, February 15. At the opening of a public meeting of the League of Nations Council, Mr. A. J. Balfour, in a brief speech, declared that after his experience of the last few days he looked forward to the future of the council with the utmost confidence. The bnsiness-flke and conciliatory spirit which had been shown demonstrated that the League would be of incalculable service to mankind. M. Leon Bourgeois (France) submitted a report regarding the Court of International Justice. It was resolved to refer the question to a committee* of legal experts, and to discuss it at the next meeting of the council. It was also resolved to refer the question of a permanent organisation to deal with matters relating to transit, waterways, ports, and railways to the existing French Commission, and the question of a permanent organisation to deal with health affairs to the existing British Commission. The Ceiuncil elecided to admit Switzerland as an original member of the league, while permitting Switzerland to retain her neutrality in view of her special position. It was further resolved to convene an international conference to study means of remedying the financial crisis. The second day's prejeeedings of the Council of the League, which met at St. James' Palace, settled the organisation of the Saar .Basin, and rejected the request of four German communes for inclusion in the Saar region on the ground that the Versailles Treaty does not empower the council to make changes of the delimitation of the area. The next meeting of the Council of the lx:ague of Nations will be held in Rome about the middle of March. — (A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)