LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

' THE COUNCIL MEETS Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, -Juno 14. The session of the Council of the Loncne of Nations opened to-day. Sii Austen Chamberlain, who presided, was the first to arrive at the Calais dcs Nations, and was quickly followed by M. liriand, Dr Strcscmann, Viscount isiiii and M. Vaudcrvclde. The number of Foreign Secretaries present was seven, thus giving point to the first subject broached—namely, question raised by Sir Austen Chamberlain last session, whether the sessions of tho council should bo reduced from four to three a year. Sir Eric Drummond (SecretaryGeneral) reported that there was no administrative difficulty. He suggested January, May, and September as the most convenient months. Sir Austen Chamberlain said he thought all were agreed that the presence of Foreign Ministers enhanced the council’s prestige and enabled decisions to he reached more rapidly ; but he and bis colleagues found it difficult to leave their posts four times a year. His suggestion appeared to have aroused need less 0 foolish anxiety and suspicion. Ho would never make anv proposal calculated to impair the antboiity ato usefulness of the council. He suggested that a decision be deferred until September, because they must have tho support both of tho council and tho assembly This suggestion was agreed to. Sitting privately, tho council conrMored the cost of the recent Economic Conference, upon which it is understood about 500,000 4 gold francs was spent. No contribution has yet been received from the United States oi Soviet Governments. M. Briand spent an hour with Dr Strcscmann discussing the question »f the evacuation of the 1 rench troops from Germany.

(British Official News.)

RUGBY, Juno 13. Members of the League Council assembled at Geneva during the weekend, and began to deal with amendments. To-day thcro are th ll ty-fi\ o subjects for discussion in epen meeting- hut it is generally Iviown that the' presence of the statesmen in Geneva will enable a private exchange of views upon many current problems which do not figure on the agenda.

FIVE COUNTRIES. REPRESENTED

(British Official News.)

RUGBY, June 14

(Received June 15, at 11 a.in.) ' The Times ’ cites as confirmation of Sir Austen Chamberlain’s argument for a reduction in the number of League of Nations sessions that yesterday the agenda was completed by the Council in the morning, leaving the rest of the day available for committee work. . ,

Five European countries —Britain, France, Germany, Poland, and Belgium—are represented at the session by their Foreign Ministers.