WORLD PARLIAMENT

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4150, 22 November 1920, Page 2

WORLD PARLIAMENT

LEAGUE CONFERENCE AT GENEVA.

GERMANY PROTESTS AGAINST

MANDATES

PROCEDURE DILEMMA

vHy Ejactrio Telegraph. — Oopjrrigat (Aust.-N.Z. Cable Association./

London. November 20. The Australian Press Aseociation correspondent at Geneva states that it is reported that Germany has filed ■a protest with tbre Assembly, c< aiming that the Allies have- not lived uprto the clauses of the Treaty providing that colonies and mandates should be distributed and governed by the League. Furthermore, that she signed' a covenant with the expectation that ehe would be admitted to the League, and have a part in the distribution of the mandates. Therefore she does not recognise that she is any longer bound to that portion of the Treaty under which she surrendered her colonies.

A number of overseas delegates, accustomed to Lheir own parliamentary procedure, and new to European methods, find themeelves nonplussed at times by the Assembly's procedure. In drafting the ' provisional rules they were made expressly elastic to meet, as far as possible, the diverse methods of the different nationalities. Bilingualism, with its attendant slowing down of business, adde to the newcomer's perplexities. The fact is that the Assembly partakes more of the nature of a conference than of a Parliament, and until the Commi&eion completes the drafting of set procedure, its emergence from a congress condition into a proper parliamentary system cannot be expected. Already, after two daye' experience, % Commissions are beginning to prove unwieldy. With the laudable desire bo permit every nation to have representation, these Commissions have resulted in some having 30 members, lengthening out the deliberations. OverlapDing has also occurred to such an extent that the Aseembly decided that next week three Commissions shall sit three "days and the remainder meet on alternate days.

The sixth Commission has done practically nothing beyond a "general discussion on armaments* M: viv.iani pointing out that the Commission does not possess sufficiently definite data on which to proceed. The colonial representatives get somewhat restive at the slowness .of the progress, bat the Assembly is such n new , experiment that patience is required to enable it to* get into its stride. American circles in Geneva aro impressed Irv the importance of the Assembly. Some of the leading nubliciste declare that the idea of the United States starting a counter League is futile. In the presence of the 40 nations assembled in Geneva it would be wiser for th e United States to join the League and assist ir moulding ite constitution. Mr Rowell (Canada) resumed the debate on the Council'e report. He said that the success of the League depended on the personnel of Council of the Assembly. Unless the na tions sent their beet men the result would be unsatisfactory. The League must justify iteelf by its achievements. He asked whether the Coun.cil was composed of a kind of elder statesmen, or did it represent certain Powers 'named t in Covenant? He believed' that it occupied the latter position. "Unless the Council gives leadership," he declared, (< it must fail. If a representative on it cannot speak absolutely for his country, he has no- right there. The Council should be prepared to back up its decisions in such disputes us that between Poland and Lithuania by invoking its economic- powers." He recognised the difficulties arising out of centres of conflict and racial animosities. The Canadians had shed blood to destroy militarism. The League was the most hopeful experiment devised by man to save the world.

GERMANY'S ADMISSIONS

Parts, November 20. Le Matin's Geneva correspondent says that in the event of a vote it is probable that only Norway, Holland and the Argentine will support German's admission to the League. Over 30 nations support France'e point of view.