DELICATE ISSUES RAISED

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 119, 13 February 1926, Page 9

DELICATE ISSUES RAISED

GERMANY’S APPLICATION TO ENTER LEAGUE OF NATIONS FRENCH ENDEAVOURS TO SECURE LATIN-WESTERN SLAV COALITION MOMENTOUS DIPLOMATIC STRUGGLE A crisis in the League of Nations is foreseen by the diplomatic correspondent of a London journal, who declares that France is leading a movement the primary object of which is to offset the effect of Germany’s presence. He also asserts that the movement would ultimately weaken Britain’s position in the League and might completely transform its purpose, character, and structure.

'By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright.

London, February 11.

The "Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent, in an important article headed "The Coming Crisis in the League of Nations,” says:

Members of the British Cabinet and diplomatic and legal experts are daily consulting regarding the great and delicate issues raised by Germany’s application to enter the League, which has given rise to a momentous diplomatic struggle in the Chancelleries of Europe, and even, in the League’s lobbies.

France, supported by various Powers, is leading a movement designed to Increase the permanent seats in the Council by the addition of Spain, Portugal, and possibly Brazil, and thereafter to increase the full personnel of the Council to fifteen.

The immediate primary object of the movement is to offset the effect of Germany’s presence, neutralising it beforehand by the consolidation of an overwhelming anti-German majority. The ultimate consequences of the movement, if it succeeded, would be more serious, for it would thereafter weaken Britain’s position in the League, and might completely transform its purpose, character, and structure. The permanent majority for a French policy which the promoters are seeking to create in the League Council would consist of the following categories:— (1) Countries with special military pacts with France, namely, Belgium, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia.

(2) Latin States, with cultural affinities with France, like Spain, Brazil, and, at present, even Italy, owing to her dispute with Germany. (3) Countries at present represented in the Council by their Ambassadors at Paris, namely, Japan, Spain, Brazil, and Uruguay, now nicknamed "the Paris vote.” Apart from Japan, these always see European problems through Paris spectacles.

Though at present the- Council votes must be unanimous, it is difficult in practice for one. or two countries to stand out against the rest. The movement further aims at enabling majority, instead of unanimous, decisions to be given on important issues. In a nutshell, these so-called “reformers” want to assure themselves, in the first place, a permanent de facto

majority in the Council, which they will subsequently convert by amendments into a de jure majority. It is not difficult to see how this Latin-Western Slav coalition, apart from German problems, could place Britain and Sweden, and, possibly, occasionally Belgium and Japan, in a kind of perpetual, hopeless minority at last. This would be intolerable, considering the population, resources, and civilisation of the British Empire and its contribution, spiritual and material, to the maintenance of the League.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMPOSITION- OF COUNCIL WHOLE QUESTION NOW OPEN London, February 11. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Sir Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Minister) said that Germany’s application for admittance to the League of Nations inevitably opened up the whole question of the composition of the Council of the League, and.would give rise to claims in other quarters. Until the latter were considered it was impossible to say which course would - best serve the League’s interests. The British Ministry was at present considering all the issues, and he hoped it would be possible to make a statement before, he left to attend the March meeting of the Council. He hoped it would be recognised that in such a matter, in which a good deal of difference of opinion might exist, it was desirable that full weight should be given to the feeling and arguments both of the Council and the Assembly on this point. The object and usefulness of the League would be destroyed if delegates were rigidly bound by their instructions beforehand. Mr. IL Thurtle (Lab.) asked': "Is. it true, as stated in the Press, that vou have undertaken to support Spam’s claim to a seat in the Council?” Sir Austen Chamberlain. “I do not wish to add to mv statement. It is unfortunate I have been asked to do so.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.