LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 312, 29 September 1926, Page 11

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

— > NECESSITY OF DEFINING JUNCTIONS BRITIS” ATTITUDE ”0 MANCOMMISSION EYPT, uIATION by viscount CECIL ' ‘.count Cecil, referring to the work of the session of the Let-Cue of Nations Assembly, said the object of the criticisms of the Mandates Commission was to draw attention to the danger of the Commission exceed ig its powers. He »'•. clared that now that t’’e League was growing up its functions should be defined. I‘v Telegraph.—Pbbss association. Corr right (Rec. September 28, 8.-ID p.m.) Geneva, September 28. In a statement to journalists before his departure Viscount Cecil said he felt strongly that the session of the League of Nations Assembly just concluded had been most successful, ihe proceedings had shown the spirit of solidarity in the League. He was particularly pleased with the success of the Slavery Convention, and the hastening of the ratification of " conventions. i . Regarding criticisms of the British attitude towards the Mandates Commission, Viscount Cecil reminded Ins hearers that the French Foreign Minister and the Dominions’ representatives also spoke on the same subject. All paid a tribute to the Commission, and the object of their criticisms was simply to draw attention to the possible danger of the Commission exceeding its powers. Alluding to his own motion regarding the limits of the League’s action, Viscount Cecil declared that now that the League was growing up its functions should be defined. Ihe League had to deal with all mat'ers of international concern affecting the peace of the world, not with national affairs. Concerning disarmament, \ iscoiint Cecil said it was necesrery to settle certain principles before practical results could be attained. There was no difference between the French and the Americans on this point. DISARMAMENT PROBLEM VIEWS OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (Rec. September 28, 7.35 p.m.) Geneva, September 2’f. The Preparatory Committee of tlie Armament Conference arranged methods of expediting the work, and adjourned sine die to permit of technical, sub-committees to complete their labours. Mr Gibson, the American delegate, refuted newspaper allegations that tlie United States was obstructing disarmament, and reaffirmed his Government’s views: (1) That land armaments should be more susceptible to regional agreements. (2) That steps should be taken to prevent competitive building of types of vessels excluded from the Washington Agreement. (3) That the isolation of concrete problems and the separate treatment of these offered the best means of limiting armaments. M. Pau! Boncour expressed the opinion that France preferred general disarmament, but if this were impossible she would accept regional agreements.