LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17612, 15 November 1922, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

ITS DEVELOPMENT AND POSSIBILITIES.

SIB J. ALLEN'S IMPRESSIONS.

(ntou otra own correspondent.) LONDON, October 3. Sir James Allen has returned from the Assembly of the League of Nations mere than ever convinced that the personal association of important men representing so many countries in the world is a valuable and desirable thing in itself. Many of the delegates speak with authority for their respective countries, and the free intercourse ia and out of the conference rooms is an important factor in bringing about a better understanding amongst the nations of the world.

Last year considerable attention was paid to setting up technical and humanitarian organisations. "They are still going strong in tnia aire-tion," fiuid &ir James, "in my opinion, a little too strong, leadinc to expenditure whioh is hardly justified in the present state of the League's finances.

"In same aspects there is a tendency for the League to take responsibilities which may involve a recrudesoenoe of the idea which was successfully combated at the first Assembly—a superState. When the nations get into difficulties they have a tendency to anneal to the League to help them out, ana as the atmosphere of the League is nonpolitical you are more likely to get from it a settlement of the problems. At previous Assemblies the various delegates had a tendency to group themselves according to national sympathies. This was no less noticeable at the Assembly just closed. If the League can get rid of this bad tendency it will, in my judgment, become a moat powerful institution for dealing with the troubles between nations.

"It has already settled the AaUnd Islands question and attempted the solution of the Polish-Lithuanian quarrel—not entirely satisfactorily, but in the.best way it could. And now there is the suggestion that the League should take charge of the neutral zone in the Dardanelles. It will be a most extraordinary position, for the League could only carry out its duties through the goodwill of the nations. I see in the future the possibility of the League being empowered to call on certain nations to enforce its decisions. Already there is a. precedent for this in the despatch of the small international force to Upper Silesia." ' , Reparations and National Debts. Sir James referred to the occasions on which the League had been called in to settle economic and financial difficulties. The Oounoil of the League, be said, had now undertaken the task of lessening the economic difficulties of Austria. If the League can help to solve Austria's financial troubles, it may be asked to settle the Reparations Question and the difficult problem of the world's debts. The High Commissioner was convinced, however, that in some way the League would have to get rid of the tendency to national grouping. In this defect lay the possible weakening of the influence of the League. Referring to the action of theJPermanont Mandates Commission in questioning Dominion delegates at a public meeting and making: their report known to the public before it had gone to the Councu, ; Sir James considered that the Council would probably, amend the regulations. The* present proredure, he maintained,. was;most objectionable, and if an alteration was not made, it was probable that the "New Zealand Government would give him instructions not to attend the conference of the Mandates Commission.

Lord Eobert Cecil's Views. Before leaving Geneva, Lord Robert Cecil gave his impressions of the third meeting of the Assembly. He express* ed the view&hat it marked an enormous advanoe on its predecessors. The first, he said, was frankly experimental, the second showed a distinct advanoe, but still left room for many doubts and uncertainties. At the end of the third Assembly no one could retain the smallest misgiving as to the permanence and progressive development of the League. '"Not." <idded Lord Robert, "that I anticipate any sensational expansion. What seems in prospect is the steady advance of the League on its present lines, with a gradual access of strength all the time. Nothing has been more striking this year than the demonstration of the resolve of the Assembly as a whole to decline any domination by the Allied Powers. It realises its own strength, and that means an end of the Supreme Council, for the part cannot maintain itself against the will of the whole." "There is one matter," continued Lord Robert, "that has impressed me considerably. That is the need for fuller development of the League ma-: ohinery in "Wbitehn ,, l. Practically, everything there is in the hands of one very capable member of the Cabinet Secretariat, whose possibilities, seeing that he is single-handed, are naturijjly limited. Now, what is the position vi France P You have there, first of all, a special Section at the Quni d'Oraay devoted to the League of Nations', work alone. In addition, tliere is an influential inter-Departmental Committee constantly discussing; matters touching the Lengue, and empowered to call on any separate [Department for documents or information needed at any moment. The con&'jquqence is that the Frencu delegation is greatly strengthened by having this considerable and efficient organisation at its bock. The wisdom of similarly fortifying the Biitish delegates seems manifest*' •