THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 309, 30 December 1924, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

IRELAND'S THREAT TO WITHDRAW. NEW YORK, December 21. The New York "World's" Geneva correspondent cays that the Irish Free State will withdraw from the League of Nations within 24 hours if the British stand that the Irish cannot be registered with the League is accepted. Mr. Michael MacWhitc, the Free State envoy, in an interview, declared that Ireland's position against "Britain's attempt to apply pre-war solutions to post-war problems" will be uncompromising. Dublin's reply to the British Note to the League, in which it is pointed out that the British Government has consistently taken the view that none of the League's covenants was intended to govern the inter-relations of the British Commonwealth, is under preparation. It will say that Ireland is now a fullfledged member of the League. "Ireland will challenge Britain's interpretation of the Covenant of the League, acknowledging neither the legality nor the equity of the contentions," says Mr. Mac White. "The Covenant is clear and unambiguous on this matter. The Versailles Treaty is the Dominions' Magna Charta, establishing their right to handle their own foreign affairs." A canvass ahowe that ivith the ex-

iception of Britain and France, and possibly Italy, the Council upholds Ireland. A meeting of representatives of ten smaller countries last night unanimously expressed the opinion that victory for the British theory would place them at the mercy of any nation which in future i would follow the precedent, and declare the treaties of minor States invalid."