LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 298, 10 September 1921, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PUBLICITY ITS LIFE-BLOOD THE MANDATES QUESTION LORD ROBERT CECIL ON AMERICA’S ATTITUDE Lord Robert Cecil advocates publicity for the League, stating that it is the life-blood of the organisation. If the mandates question were to stand still, he said, it would be the fault of tho United States, which cid not want the question dealt with without it, but refused the League's invitations to join in _ the discussions. By Telegraph—Press Association— -Copyright Geneva, September 8. Lord Robert Cecil, speaking at the League of Nations Assembly on the secretariat’s report on tho Council's work, said that he was satisfied with the way the different questions were dealt with, but criticised the secretariat on some of its deliberations. Publicity was tho League’s very life-blood, without which it could not survive. He hoped the Upper Silesian question would be settled in a manner not only just but to appear so to the whole world. Referring to tho mandates, Lord Robert Cecil said that if tho question were to stand still it would be the fault of the United States, which did not want the question dealt with without it, but at the same time refused the League’s invitations in February and Juno to join in the discussions on the mandates. He had just learned of the new proposal from the United States, and though he did not desire to criticise Washington, he regretted that the League’s good reputation had diminished. Ho did not want the League accused of helping any move 4a r annexation in mandatory districts. Speaking on disarmament, he said it was high time the League acted, as armament had increased since the war. He moved that tho status of A and B mandates should be definitely settled.,— Cable Assn. INTERPRETAIioToF ARTICLE X (Rec. September 9, 5.5 p.m.) Geneva, September 9The Amendments Commission has adopted the jurists’ interpretation of clause 10 to the effect that it doos not assure the perpetuity end integrity .of territorial political divisions, since military aggression might produce territorial changes, and it doos not impose on members of the League an obligation to furnish- armed forces to guarantee menaced territorial integrity—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Clause 10 of the Covenant reads: Thp members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League. In case of any such aggression, or in ease of any threat or danger of such aggression, the Council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.]