GENEVA CONGRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5665, 20 December 1920, Page 5

GENEVA CONGRESS

DISCUSSION ON BUDGET.

SIR J. ALLEN’S COMMENTS ON SECRETARY’S SALARY.

£IO,OOO A YEAR TOO HIGH

MR. BALFOUR’S REPLY

OFFICIAL NOT TO BE MEASURED BY POLITICAL STANDARD.

(United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received December 19, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, December 19. The Assembly considered the Budget. Sir George Forster reported that Argentina, Salvador and Paraguay had not. paid their contribution. It was a primary obligation- to promptly pay allotments. He admitted that the method of distribution was unfair. South Africa and others jiaid as much as Great Britain. A committee five, in conjunction with the Postal Union, should Ixi appointed to draft a formula for equitable allocation. Sir .fames Alien characterised -he salary allowances of the secretary of £IO,OOO per annum as altogether too high. He compared it with what tho Governor-General of New Zealand and the Prime Minister received. The . Indian delegate thought ilia salaries had been fixed at a time wnen people were engaged upon war and thought in millions. Mr Balfour said the, attack on the secretary’s salary called for a reply. He ventured to say that Sir James Allen’s comparisons were misleading and erroneous. No man went into polities as a monetary profession. Mr Balfour said the politician looked for fame. Ke stood in the limelight and sought for power. These were his rewards. Tne Secretary-General could not be measured by the politician’*, standard or

civil servants. The Powers 'at Versailles had created the office, and named his pay. and it would be discreditable for the Assembly to go back upon the arrangement thus made. Apart from this he was' prepared to defend the salary upon its merits. The head of a great organisation like the League should not he placed on a lower plane than an ambassador. After a spiritless debate the Buagc-t teas adopted.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

THE MANDATES. JAPAN AGREES TO ISSUE. COMMISSION COMPLAINS OF INADEQUATE INFORMATION. COUNCIL ADMITS FULL RESPONSIBILITY. (Received December 19, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA. Dec. 17. 'phe Japanese have submitted a declaration relating to mandates. It states the Japanese still have a firm conviction concerning their claim zot equal opportunities for trade and commerce, but from a spirit of ccnciliat.on and co-operation, and reluctance to see the question unsettled any longer, tney decided to agree to the issue of the mandates in their present form, out the decision should not bj considered as acquiescence in discriminatory disadvantageous treatment i:i mandated territories, nor have they discarded the rights and interests enjoyed by Japanese subjects. The Assembly considered the cornmission’s mandates report, wmch strongly complained that the council was not giving it an opportunity to see the mandates and was keeping them confidential to the last moment. Tfie terms of the mandates were little mere than a repetition of the conditions contained in the covenant. The commission felt that a mandatory Power should not use its position to increase the military strength, and secondly, it should not use its power to exploit for itself natural resources in the mandated territories. Lord Cecil said he was disappointed that the Council was not giving a draft of the mandates to the- commission for discussion. Mr Doherty (Canada) said he was sorry that so inadequate an opportunity 'had been afforded the Assembly to consider this important subject. Mr Balfour admitted that neither commission nor assembly had haci opportunity of. considering the mandates. The Council took full responsibility. He could not approve the report’s" observation on the increase of military strength or the exploitation of resources without due reward. The Council’s mandate decision cn the lines forecasted has given Senator Millen the utmost satisfaction. It is a tribute to bis efforts to secure a solution in conformity with Australia's oesires.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

PROPOSED EXPEDITION TO SAVE ARMENIA. COMMISSION TO PRESENT REPORT. (Received December 19. 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, Dec. IS. M. Jonescu, on behalf of lvomnan.a, submitted a proposition for an in,-e,-national expedition of 40.000 inter-...-lied troops to save Armenia, the espedition to be composed on a population basis. ~ The president paid a tribute to the proposal, but thought it should be i-e-----f erred to a commission. Ultimately the Armenian Commission'undertook to report on the suggestion to-morrow. —A. and N.Z.C.A.

NEW MEMBERS OF LEAGUE

DELEGATES TAKE THEIR SEATS

(Received December 19. 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, December 18. Count Mesdorff, representing Austria took his seat without ceremony The representatives of Albania, garia and Finland' also took their seats. —A. and N.Z.C.A.

Js Z THANKED FOE. BELGIAN ■' BELIEF. ASSEMBLY PEOEOGUED. (Received December 19, 11 p.ni-} . * •- ■_ GENEVA, Dec. IS. • The' Assembly approved of the ealar of. .the President, of the International Court at 6000 Dutch florins. The President thanked the New 'Zealand Government for having given help •to Belgium and to the suffering children'of Europe during the war. .: After addresses by M. Hymans and AL \fottay the Assembly prorcuged.—A. and' N.Z.C.A.