SESSION OPENS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 9

SESSION OPENS

ARRIVAL OF MEMBERS

i SEVEN MINISTERS

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) GENEVA, 14th June. Tho session of the Council of the League of Nations has opened, Sir Austen Chamberlain, presiding. Sir Austen was the first to arrive at the 'Palais de Nations, and was quickly followed by M. Briand, Dr. Streaemann, Baron Ishii, and M. Vandervolde. The number of Foreign Secretaries present was seven, giving point to the first subject broached, namely, the question raised by Sir Austen Chamberlain last session, whether the sessions of the Council should be reduced from four to three a- year. ,

Sir Eric Drummond, SecretaTy-Gen-eral, reported that there was no administrative difficulty. He suggested January, May, and September as the most convenient. .

HEEDLESS ANXIETY.

Sir Austen Chamberlain thought that all were agreed that the presence of Foreign Ministers enhanced the Council's prestige, and enabled decisions, to bo reached more rapidly, but he and his colleagues found it difficult to leave their posts four times a year. His suggestion appeared, to have aroused needloss and foolish anxiety and suspicion. Ho would never make any proposal calculated tb impair the authority and usefulness of the Council. Ho suggested that the decision be deferred until September, becauso they must have the support of botii tho Council and the Assembly.

This was agreed to. Sitting privately, the Council consiaerod the cost of the recent Economic Conference, upon which it is understood a sum of about half a million gold francs was spent. No donation had yet boon received from the United States or tho Soviet Governments.

M. Briand spent an hour with Dr. Stresomann discussing the evacuation of French troops from Germany.