THE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1922, Page 6

THE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES.

During the past week the thoughts of many have turned to the Leagui of Nations. Some have hoped that the League might be used to prevent war in the Near East. Others saw in the crisis another illustration of the essential limitations of the League. H is curious, that during this week there should have been two announcements showing that the scope of tly* League is being widened in highly important directions. Tlie League has made definite proposals to the Chancellor of ; Austria for the rehabilitation of that I stricken country. Under these tho Powers will guarantee Austra a loan !of twenty-one millions, aud Austria will j consent to financial and administrative I reforms being imposed, which—and tbis lis especially important—will be watched 'by the League through a Commission of | Control on the spot. This, and tbe I added statement that France, Italy, and Czechos-Slovakia have announced that they will guarantee the loan. ..■ good news. The victorious Powers, having dismembered the Austrian Empire, and created an Austrian State shorn of most of tlie Empire's wealth, could not or would not prevent Austria from slipping into the abyss. Tlie League was ap- | pealed to and the League has made proI posals. If this programme is carried out successfully, the prestige of the I League will lie greatly increased, and it may be able to proceed to still more important work. Indeed, the direction of such extension is indicated in another message stating that France has agreed to the League considering the whole problem of debts and reparations. I This is not confirmed officially, but it comas from a reliable source If it is correct, it is a piece of news of very great importance. France may not be willing to bind herself to accept the League's finding, but that she should be willing to submit such matters to the League is a sign that her attitude towards these questions and towards the League is being modified. If the Ijoaeue can settle, or help to settle, differences of opinion about reparations and debts, it will do the greatest possible service to the world, and strengthen its position enormously. Such a success wou'd enable it to supersede to a large extent the Council of the Entente as the power behind the Peace Treaties.