LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1926, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

» NOT DEAD YET. KIND WORDS TOR GERMANY. A DRAMATIC CONCLUSION. (Uj- Cable—Press Association.—'Copyright.) GENEVA, March 18. The Assembly adopted M. Briand's motion expressing regTct that circumstances prevented the admission of Germany at present. After statements byvarious delegates Mr. London (Holland) expressed dissatisfaction at the failure to admit Germany. He said the Assembly expected the League to be not again exposed to such an event. Dr. Nansen (Norway J said he hoped Germany's admission would be secured in September. Mr. Ghu (China) urged that economic potentialities ana geographical position be taken into consideration in deciding the composition of the Council. The Eumanian delegate gave au assurance of the co-operation of the Little Entente in the interests of peace. Mr. Zahle (Denmark) emphasised that the Assembly was not responsible for the present difficulties. The Albanian delegate caused a stir by pointing out that the Assembly had been summoned to admit Germany and demanding a vote thereon immediately, but the President put M. Briand's proposnl. The German delegates listened by wireless at their hotel to the speeches in the Assembly, and were most impressed by the declaration of Sir Austen. Chamberlain and M. Briand, especially 11, Briand's warm expression of friendship for Germany, with the words, 'The League must now retrieve its lost position," together with the expression of hope that the work of the League would not be arrested, but would continue its progress for the benefit of humanity, with which Baron Ishii closed a momentous session. Senor Mello Franco, in the course of his opening statement, said the work of Locarno must find a place within the framework of the League. It was not for the League to find a place within the framework of the political constitution of Locarno. He added that the Council cannot refuse to recognise the loyalty of Brazil or the high reasons inspiring her conduct.—(Reuter.) ANOTHER SCRAP OF PAPER. THE LEAGUE ANl> GERMANY. A SIROCCO OF COMMENT. LONDON, March 18. The extent of the Geneva set-back to a European settlement is already shown by the crop of new issues being raised in all quarters. The most important of these concerns the fate of the Treaty of Locarno itself. It is pointed out by responsible papers euch as the "Daily Telegraph" that the treaty lacks legal force so long as Germany is outside the League of Nations —a point which France appears to have overlooked in her eagerness to reconstitute the Council of the League. In other Quarters it is suggested that as the Locarno spirit has warned it may be advisable to re-examine the guarantees offered to France and to Germany by Britain, which were not approved ■unanimously, but which have been accepted up to now because it was argued that possible dangers had been rendered innocuous by the spirit of the treaty if not by its text. Tt is , indicated also that pressure by claimants for seats On the Council will not cease with the postponement of Germany's entry, but is more likely to incror.se. Certainly attention will very probably Vie given to the question of a seat for the Dominions. Filially there is the unsolved mystery of the obduracy of Brazil, whose own chances of re-election are considered to lit , very remote. ALL PERVADIIvG MUSSOLINI. The diplomatic correspondent of the '"Daily Telegraph" confinhs the statement that Italy is openly accused of having encouraged Brazil. The Nationalist newspapers in Berlin without qualification also indict Pignor Mussolini, the Italian Prime Minister. The (ieueva correspondent of the "Dally Herald" says Signor Grandi, Italian Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, told Italian pressmen that anything against Brazil which they sent to Italy would be censored. Suspicions of Italy are su general, says this correspondent, that the Brazilian delegate is now dubbed "Mellolihi" Ffanco. Dispatches from Paris state that the French newspapers refuse to accept Sir Austen Chamberlain's description of the deadlock as a tragedy. Indeed the more reactionary papers are inclined to be jubilant about Germany's rebuff. "Le Journal den Debate" says: "If Oermany had been admitted she would have intrigued against the Little Entente, so it is not for us to reproach Brazil." What the papers say. The London Press generally reaffirms its faith' in the League's future, but Strongly criticises the recent wranglings. The "Daily Telegraph" asks: "Where will the authors of the Locarno settlement be six months hence ? Keither the Oovernment of M. Briand nor that of Dr. Luther can be confident of eurviving so long." The "Morning Post" says it considers it has now been made clear that the power of individual members of the Council to veto any proposal may be iiEocl with dangerous effect. The "Daily Chronicle" and the "Daily News" blame M. Briand and Sir Austen Chamberlain. The "Times" says the League knows now the restricted nature of its own powers. It asks: "Has any interested party been supporting Brazil? Doe; this strange obduracy imply some obscure movement of American protest against attempts to subordinate the League to the immediate purposes of Europe ?" The "Daily Herald" asserts that Signor Mussolini hates the League and that lie saw his chance and took it. At the same time the paper blames Sir Austen Chamberlain for encouraging the intriguers prior to the Assembly. It adds: "If Sir Austen has not the decency to resign he ought to be dismissed." The "Financial Times" says the disappointment at the break-down of the Assembly is reflected on the Stock Excliange. Brazilian stocks display considerable weakness. The "Financial News" says there is nothing for financiers to do until better counsels prevail but to walk warily and to hold tighter the reins of credit.— (A. «nd N.Z, Cable.)