LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19045, 14 September 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ASSEMBLY MEETING SOME ARRESTING SPEECHES THE PROTOCOL TOUCHED ON. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. GENEVA, September 11. Echoes of the Protocol continue to resound. During a general debate on the League of Nations’ annual report M. Skrzynski (Poland) coined the most picturesque phraso of the day when ho declared: “Wo have provided the outline of the edifice. All the Governments must now break stones to build it.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. CHINA AND THE POWERS. GENEVA, September 11. Chu Chao-hsin (who is Chinese Ambassador in London), created a mild sensation in the Assembly by appealing under Article 10 of the Covenant for the revision of all treaties between the Powers and China, and also for a reduction of the Powers’ extraterritorial rights which, ho declared, were responsible for the present financial and economic position.—Reuter. IMPASSIONED APPEAL. GENEVA, September 11. New ground was broken at the League discussion by Chn Chao-hsin, who, in polished English, assorted that China was worse oft' than the losers of the Great War, because the victorious Powers with which China associated herself in the world struggle wore still enjoying extraordinary privileges and concessions in China under old treaties, a readjustment of which she urgently pleaded for in the light of her present position and the new spirit abroad in the world. Chu .Chao-hsin easily held the record for duration of applause from the delegates and spectators, who remained in the galleries till late in the afternoon. Thou M. Boncour mpunted the tribune, and thrilled the packed assembly with a brilliant and impassioned speech pleading for security as am essential preliminary to disarmament. It was a spellbinder’s effort, and there was a memorable scone at the close, delegates of the Latin races flocking round and shaking M. Bonconr’s hand. Viscount Cecil paid the British tribute. T!iq President said that such a stirring speech defied impromptu translation. He asked the delegates to await the official transcript.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FAITH IN THE LEAGUE. GENEVA, September 12. M. Boncour’s was the most brilliant speech ever heard in the Assembly. Ho affirmed that France maintained an unwavering faith in the League. The present Assembly must fulfil the will of those who died in the Great War to end war. If they were going to kill the Protocol, which gave a full hope to the peoples of the world, something else must be substituted for it. Ho favored compulsory arbitration. M. Boncour challenged anyone to find anything in the Protocol that was not contained in the Covenant.

The opinion is expressed in some quarters that the speech nmy start an avalanche for the resurrection of the Protocol, or at least servo to keep it alive pending the outcome of the Security Pact negotiations.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DOMINIONS AND THE PACT. _ GENEVA, September 11. Addressing journalists, iMr Austen Chamberlain said that no pact signed by Britain could in any ivay hind the dominions. While they were under the oft-enunciated maxim that Britain’s war, as was the case, in 1914, was the Empire’s war. it was the dominions’ right to decide whether they would provide one man or one shilling. Though Australia had incurred obligations under the League Covenant, she was not involved in the Pact until she ratified it.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE PACT CONEBEENCE. GENEVA, September, 11. Mr Austen Chamberlain, interviewed, said that the Germans were being invited to the Pact conference at a time and place not yet decided. He hoped that Italy would be present. Questioned regarding the effect of Britain signing an agreement without the dominions, Air Chamberlain replied : Wo have no right to decide for any self-governing country. They take their own action freely. Wo do not make pretensions to bind them. 'l'be British Empire is the most perfect form of League of Nations on a small scale, always acting in complete harmony and at perfect peace. —Reuter. INVITATION TO GERMANY. PAULS, Scptemcr 13. (Received September 14, at 9.15 a.m.) An invitation has been issued to Germany with a view to meeting the Foreign Ministers in Switzerland for the elaboration of a security pact.—Reuter. BRITAIN CRITICISED. LONDON, September 11. The ‘ Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says it was hardly to be expected that Mr Chamberlain’s speech at Genova would be approved in Paris. Behind all criticism of the speech lies the feeling that the British Empire is striving above everything else to evolve an international system primarily suitable to her own needs and desires. ‘Lo Temps ’ contains the criticism uttered by most Frenchmen every day, that Britain shows a lack of comprehension of events during the post-war period. She realises that her traditional isolation is no longer possible, but is unwilling to bind herself to anything for the future. Britain likes to interest herself in the affairs of Europe, and oven claims to direct them, always insisting upon reserving full liberty in all eventualities to act in her own interest.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. GENEVA, September 11. The only other incident of the day urns M. Loudon’s (Holland) warm appeal for an international, disarmament conference, and his motion that the Assembly request the Council to create a special organisation to prepare a draft for a disarmament programme. —A. and N.Z. Cable. TROUBLE IN MOSUL RUMORED. GENEVA, September 12. Reports, of which the truth is not authenticated, have been circulated among the delegates stating that 40,000 Turkish troops, mostly regulars, have concentrated on the Mosul frontier, hiding in the,hills during the daytime, and advancing across the Brussels line at night in time to avoid detection by aeroplanes.—Sydney ‘Sun’ Cable.

THE TREND OF EVENTS. PROMISING INDICATIONS. GENEVA, September 13. (Received September 14, at 10.30 a.m.) Mr Chamberlain’s reserve at the journalists’ interview on Thursday concerning tho invitation to Dr Stresemann was duo to the absence of Italy’s approval of the draft invitation. Tho reply arrived on Thursday night. Its nature is best indicated by tho fact that M. Briand left for Paris during the morning. Ho told tho journalists that ha was gratified at the way in which events were shaping, and was sanguine that there would soon be a pact covering the western and eastern frontiers, but he added the reservation that everything depended on whether Dr Stresemann survived the cross currents of German party politics. It is learned that Dr Stresemann has been invited to a conference to ho held in the first fortnight of October. With Mr Chamberlain’s departure to-night two big men of the Assembly have gone, and it is safe to assume that early next week will find tho Third Commission settling down to tho prepared formula, which is, perhaps, innocuous. The Assembly will later debate the predominant issue of security, arbitration, and disarmament as a prelude to tho Allied Ministers’ Conference at the end of the month. Delegate after delegate is now arising in the Assembly to pour out words of I lament at the Protocol’s demise, with | the pious hope that its spirit and principles will soon ho embodied in_ a system of regional agreements. This is notably the case in the speeches of tho Japanese delegate (Count Ishii) and of the Belgian (M. Hymans). Count Ishii declared that doubts in connection with the Protocol’s practical application had seized many Governments, each of which viewed it in tho light of jits own particular circumstances. There was apparently a, fear that regional agreements would revive pre-war uista- , hiiity, but, provided that none of the 1 agreements was directed against any nation, and all included tho principle of 'arbitration, the objections would assuredly disappear, and the League , would be invested with an aureola of a j now era. ! M. Hymans was emphatic that there must be definite physical sanctions, excellent though' moral sanctions were. Even with the Protocol mutual pacts I would have been necessary. In fact, (they were the very pillars of security, and would pave the way to_ disarmament proposals. His speech included a graceful comment on Mr Chamberlain’s allusion to tho illogical basis of tho j British Empire. ! M. Boncour said ; “ Where Sir Chamlain sees only an illogical structure, wa sec only a sj&uidid continuity of Engj lish history, its solution of each problem jon its merits forming a regular sequence of events. When viewed in the light of tho real underlying basis, that of the Empire’s institutions and requirements, wo have a story which Kipling could rightly call the first story of the world.”—A. and N..Z Cable.