LEAGUE CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 6

LEAGUE CRISIS.

After a temporary lull in the storm of conflicting rumours that have centred round Geneva during the past week, controversy haa revived on the League of Nations more intensely and bitterly than before. A few days ago the stage was set and preparations were duly made for the reception of Germany—the main object for which this gathering of the League has been convened. Then came the unexpected. crisis in Prance, which oy occupying 11. Briand elsewhere held up temporarily that great international function at Geneva. The opinion wa-s expressed at the time that in all probability XL Briand's defeat would prove a blessing in disguise, as the delay which it would necessitate weuld give the League delegates more time to consider the situation seriously and to avert any risk of a debacle, when Germany's admission came to be discussed. But unfortunately this argument was doubleedse.d. for in the interval that has elapsed since If. Briand's fall from power two of the States demanding seacs on the Council havo suddenly ae«ei*te*i their claims so insistently and aggressively that at the moment ttere appears to be some danger of Gerraany ! s summary withdrawal. While the League was chiefly engaged in "markin? time," waiting for the advent of M, Briand, a sub-committee s«t nn to dismiss Germany's application for membership decided that she had fulfilled all the required obligations, and pronounced unanimously in her favour. So far everything looked promising, but this was t'rw calm hefore the storm. The first discordant note was struck by t'.e Spanish delegate, who alarmed the League by emphasising Spain's rlaim to a permanent seat on the Council. The case for Spain has been before the Leagne for some years, and the SpanishForeign Minister urges that Spain, being i the most important and influential of the Powers who were neutral during the war. has iwit a right to a seat on the Council. But just at the moment when it seemed that Spain might he induced to take a reasonable view of the situation another claimant came to the front with a declaration couched in even more threatening and defiant terms. The Brazilian Minister, after pointing out that his country's claims had been before ' tl.e Leagne ever sines 1921. announced dramatically that Brazil will be content '•■ with nothing less than immediate admission to a permanent seat on the Council, and that, if this is refused, he is instructed first to veto the admission of Germany and tl.en to withdraw from the League altogether.

It is understood that Sir A. Chamberlain and M. Paul Boncour, speaking for Britain and France, made an impressive and partially successful appeal to the delegates to consider seriously the momentous issues involved, and not lightly to sacrifice this last chance of reconciling national animosities and proserving the world's peace. But unless 11. Briand can put forward more powerful arguments than any yet employed the situation is certainly a difficult and dangerous one. Germany refuses to enter the League if any other State secures a permanent seat on the Council at the same time; while on the other hand it is believed that Poland and Brazil certainly, and Spain probably, will retire from the League unless permanent seats are granted at once to them. It is reported that M. Briand may attempt to induce the Germans to accept a compromise, by offering on behalf of France to withdraw from the Rhineland and transfer its control to the Leaprue, if Germany will agree to the immediate admission of Spain and the subsequent admission of Poland to permanent seats on the Council. But even this plan would not cover the ease of Brazil; whose policy seems to be inspired partly by PanAmerican ambitions, and may possibly be influenced by the hostile attitude of the L'nited States toward the League. The position just now is certainly precarious, and there is grave danger lest the Powers, in their natural desire to persuade Germany to come in, may be induced to make concessions to her that might ultimately outweigh all the benefits that the world might gain by her adherence to the League.