FAITH IN LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 7

FAITH IN LEAGUE.

ASSEMBLY DEBATE.

FRENCH DELEGATE'S BRILLIANT

SPEECH.

(ar cablb—pbxss unookTtax— corruurr.) VACSTRAUAH AKD X.l. CABLE ASBOCIATIOH.)

(Received September 13th, 0.0 p.m.)

GENEVA. September 12. M. Boncour mounted the tribune and thrilled the packed Assembly with a brilliant and impassioned speech, pleading for security as an essential of preliminary disarmaments. It was a spellbinding effort, and created a memorable scene, at the eToee of which the Latin delegates flocked around shaking M. Boncour's hand. Lord Cecil paid th© British tribute to the President, saying that such a stirring speech defied impromptu translation, and asked tho delegates to await its official transcription. The onJy other incident of tho day was M. Loudon's (Holland) -warm appeal for an international disarmament conference and a motion that the Assembly request the Council to create a special organisation to prepare a draft for a disarmament programme.

M. Boncour's was the most brilliant speech ever heard in the Assembly. Ho affirmed that Franco had maintained unwavering faith in the -League, and the present Assembly must fulfil the will of those who died in tho great war to end war. If they were going to kill tho Protocol, which gave full hope to the peoples of the world, sometliing else must be substituted for it. He favoured compulsory arbitration. M. Boncour challenged anyone to find anything in the Protocol tnat was not contained in th© Covenant. Tho opinion is expressed in some quarters that the spjech may start an avalanche for tho resurrection of the Protocol, at least to keep it alive pending the outcome of the Security Pact negotiations.

BRITAIN'S ISOLATION.

FRENCH CRITICISM.

"LACK OF COMPREHENSIpN."

(iCSTJULUK AKD H.Z. CA.BLI ASSOCIA.TIO*,) (Received September 13th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 11. . The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that it was hardly to bo expected that Mr Chamberlain's speech at Geneva would bo approved in Paris. Behind all. the criticism of his speech lies the feeling that tli© British Empire is striving above everything else to evolve an international 6ystem, primarily suitable to her own needs and desires. ''he Tempa" contains the criticism uttered by most Frencbmen every day that Britain shows lack of comprehension of the evente during tho postwar period. She realises that her traditional isolation is no longer possible, lu£ is unwilling to bind herself to anything for the future. Britain likes to interest herself in the affairs of Europe, and even claims to direct them, always insisting upon reserving full liberty in all eventualities to act in her own interest.

SECURITY PACT.

INVITATION TO GERMANY. RIGHTS OF BRITISH DOMINIONS. (bicteb's teusgrams.) '/' * GENEVA, September 11. Mr Chamberlain, in an interview, said the Germans were being flftited to a Pact Conference, bat the time and place had not yet been decided upon. Ho hoped that Italy would be represented.

Questioned regarding the effect of Britain signing an agreement without the Dominions, Mr Chamberlain replied : "We have no right to decide for airy self-governing country. They will take their own action freely, and we will not make any pretension to

bind them. The British Empire is a most perfect form of the League of Nations on a small scale, always acting in complete harmony and perfect peace." v REVISION OF TREATIES. CHINA'S REQUIREMENTS. (ksutx&'s TZLzaa.xue.) GENEVA, September 11. Mr Chu. Chao-hsin created a mild sensation in the Assembly of tbe League of Nations by appealing, under Article 10 of tbe Covenant, for a revision of all treaties between the Powers and China, also for reduction of the Powers' extra-territorial rights, which he declared were responsible for the present financial and economic position.

New ground was broken by the Chinese Ambassador to London, who, in polished English, asserted that China was worse off than the losers of the Great War, because the victorious Powers with which China had associat«d herself in the world struggle were still enjoying extraordinary privileges and concessions in China under the old treaties, n readjustment of which she urgently pleaded for in the light of ner present position and the world's «5w spirit. r Chu Chao-hsin easily held the record for the duraiion of applause from the delegates and spectators in tbe galleries.