LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19198, 15 March 1926, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

NO ASREBicMT REACHED GERMANY UNYIELDING Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 12. Yustertluy most exciting events occurred at Geneva. Jsrav.il and Spain waived their demands, hut 51. Briand urged the Germans to agree to Poland having a non-permanent scat till September. On the Gormans refusing to do this M. Briand upbraided them, but Dr Stresemann retorted: “The French have thrown the hall at. us, and wo return it.” The result is a. emiiiuuaueo of the deadlock.—A.- and. N.Z. Cable.

FRANCK AND GERMANY DISAGREE.

INTERNATIONAL DISTRUST

LONDON, s[arch Id. The situation at Geneva this morning remained at a deadlock. Senor Mellofranco’s communication with Rio cle Janeiro resulted in a. modification of Brazil's attitude to such an extent that she was disregarded in the day’s negotiations. Moreover, it is announced that M. Unden (Sweden! is confined to bed with bronchitis, and it is unlikely that ha will ho able to attend the .Council and vote.

The Germans conferred with_ flic French, after which the Locarno signatories assembled. Viscount Cecil being present for the first time, with the result that Germany was asked to agree to Poland having a non-permanent seat until September, _and that meanwhile a Commission be instituted. Dr Luther and Dr Stresemann declared that they could not accept these terms. They pointed out that they represented only a minority of the Reichstag and had no authority to agree to any change in the composition of the Council before Germany’s entry. Tt is understood that 51. Briand again made a pathetic exhortation to the Germans,_ claiming that a new situation had arisen and they must as statesmen adopt themselves to the new conditions. During the arguments both sides threatened resignations. The Germans remained immovable, claiming Germany’s sole and unconditional admission.

51. Briand, in a Press interview, stated: “We have gone to the extreme limit of concessions. Germany agreed to enter tho League without special treatment. Now she makes conditions which we cannot accept. We can do no more.” The Germans, on the other hand, resented the responsibility being thrown upon them. What will follow to-day no one knows nor ventures to guess. There is still an idea that the whole matter will be postponed till September. One correspondent avers that it is only a matter of hours before the delegations will pack up. On tho other hand, it is felt that a solution may come at tho eleventh hour.

Several sources, indicate that the dominion representatives informed _ Sir Austen Chamberlain in the most direct terms that they mould vote against any increase of the Council apart from Germany.

Despatches from Geneva stale that .Sweden offered to resign her scat on the League Council in favor of Poland, and Belgium also offered to act sunilarly. A report from Copenhagen stains that Poland is bringing pressure on Sweden to change her attitude, fading which she threatens an economic war.

Reports from Warsaw smite tint a mass meeting of students Massed a resolution in support of Poland’s claim. Thousands marched in procession singing the National Anthem.

M. Briancl has postponed his departure from Geneva, be in" hopeful of a settlement. It is regarded as significant that Sir Austen Chamberlain lunched with the German delegates. It is officially stated that negotiations nf tho “Big Five” having faded, the question will be referred to the Council of the League immediately. Sir Austen Chamberlain, in an interview. said that although pe was more -hopeful yesterday of a satisfactory settlement of the Council membership problem as a result of M. Vnndervolde s passionate appeal, M. Briand’s conciliatory attitude, and bis own efforts to go one better, be now felt that Dr Lutbor’s rejection of their proposals made all efforts to continue the conversations useless. He described the outcome of the efforts ns a tragedy, end added; “As to the future the whole affair is in the hands of the League Council. It is impossible to say -what the reaction of the latest events will he” A. and N.Z, and Sydney Sun’ Cables. . THE POSITION DISCUSSED. LONDON, March 13. While the London papers yesterday morning regarded the position as hopeless, the Australian Press Association indicated the possibility of eleventhhour solutions. These were forthcoming in the course of the day. Dr Luther and Dr Stresemann strongly advocated referring the whole question of new scats to a Commission to reportin September. In the meantime several minor States intimated their willingness to withdraw from the Council in order to facilitate the entry of the newcomers. ■ . 1T , , A Council meeting officially decided, however, to convoke the Assembly on Tuesday for the consideration of Germany’s entry, following which the Council will meet for the of creating a permanent scat for Germs iy. Thus the Council will be able to orce all to show their hands. Failing unanimity, Germany may withdraw fvo a the League, in which case the Cm nr-il will appear before the Assembly in ardor to explain the position publ.cly Dr Stresemann conferred with M. TJriand for two hours in the evening. Later he issued a statement that _it was a grotesque performance to invito Germany to Geneva and to keep her waiting for a week while nothing occurred except demands that Germany should accept various conditions before she became a member. He reiterated that he was willing to agree to the appointment of a Commission. Germany was rcaclv as soon as she was admitted to do licr utmost to solve the problem at the September session, and pledged herself, whatever nations the Assembly then elected, that sho would readily accept the decision regardless of whether she was in a majority or a minority. “It is ridiculous,” declared Dr Stresemann, “that a peace policy should be shattered for the sake of the petty creation of a. seat on the Council. The'Locarno partners should stick together.” . Dr Luther, addressing the German journalists, said; “We cannot differentiate between permanent and non-per-manent seats, because onr attitude is based on principles. We cannot bring pressure on anybody. We will support a Commission ‘.aid wait and see what happens. The whole quc«a)o;i therefore remains theW. until Tuesday unless in the meantime, as is hoped, everything is smoothed for Germany's entry unconditionally.

The British Press remains nervous. Many of the papers pass no comment, and those winch do lament the squabbling. The ‘Daily Citron iolo ’ asks: “Why does Mr Baldwin permit it?” It says: “If Sir Austen Chamberlain said frankly that the Counoil had been called together solely to admit Germany the intrigue would har« dried

up instead of fostering into an ulcer which ia poisoning the League s hro blood.” . ■ The ‘ Observer ’ says: * A long week of squalid squabbling has besmirched the name of Locarno and discredited tho League like nothing since its foundation All its enemies are exultant, and its supporters stand aghast. The Bolshevists and tho Junker diehards rejoice. American alienation is _ now contemptuously confirmed. Urn mends of reconciliation in Germany are weakened It is no time to be mealymouthed. hi Britain the whole episode lias made a disgusting impression on public opinion. Every dictate ot decency required that the letter and the spirit of Locarno should bo implemented before tho claims of Poland, Spam, and Brazil were raised.” The ‘Sunday Express says: The udiolo world stands aghast at tiis coldblooded murder of tho Local no spirit by a war of grouping antagonisms, all of which have been resurrected m darker and deadlier forms.” Tho ‘Sunday News’ says: We are to blame for not having asserted ourselves sooner and made it plain to everybody, first, that we regarded Germany’s sole admission as a point of honor, and, secondly, that it was our poliev to reserve permanent seats for the Great Powers.’’—Renter. SPAIN AND SWEDEN.

STOCKHOLM, March 12. It is scmi-officially stated that tho Spanish Government officially made representations to the Swedish authorities in reference to the enlargement of (he League Council, but the Swedish Government pointed out that Sweden’s position in this connection is purely a matter of principle.—Reuter. THE NEW BUILDINGS. TO BE BUILT AT GENEVA. GENEVA, March 13., The suggestion to remove the seat of the League from Geneva to Lausanne, Locarno, or elsewhere, which was raised by Professor Mac White (Ireland), caused a flutter among the members of the committee that is dealing with the project of building new League offices and an assembly hall. Professor s;lacAVhito complained that only limited privileges and immunities at present were accorded to the delegates. The Swiss representatives, who were most concerned, gave assurances of Switzerland’s willingness to meet the objections and to grant all tho necessary facilities; They said they would acquire the present Secretariat building at an equitable price and secure a site for new buildings. , The committee accepted' the assurances, and decided to erect new buildings at Geneva.—Reuter. ASSEMBLY’S SITTING. GENEVA, March 13. (Received slarch 15, at 1 a.m.) The morning sitting of the Assembly was of the briefest. The president paid a tribute to the memory of 51Lcon Bourgeois, after which it adopted the report of tho committees on the supplementary estimates and in regard to the erection of the conference hall annexes to the secretariat, involving an expenditure of 13.000,000 Swiss francs.—Reuter.