LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

COUNCIL’S DOINGS.

Various Matters Dealt With. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received June 17 at 7 p.m.) GENEVA, June 17. An outstanding incident at the meet ing of the Council of the League of Nations was Sir Austen Chamberlain’s action in knocking the bottom out of a motion moved by Herr Stresemann (Germany) calling on the Governments to give effect to the resolutions passed by the Economic Conference.

Herr Stresemann reviewed the work of the Economic Conference. He dwelt on its recommendation that the time has arrived to check the increase in Custom's tariffs, and even to move in the opposite direction. He stressed the moral obligation on the part of the Powers to sec the Conference’s resolutions carried out.

Whether it was with the object of embarrassing his colleagues or other wise, this would certainly have been the effect of Herr Stresemann’s motion. Sir Austen Chamberlain succeeded in watering down the motion to one commending the valuable report for the consideration of the Governments. The League Council, which is generally more enthusiastic, agreed, but re solved that the Economic Committee should begin the study of the resolutions regarding the Customs tariffs without delay. The Council referred the German request for a seat on the Mandate Commission to the Commission itself to report thereon. The Foreign Ministers discussed the Albano-Jugoslav question, and decided to renew overtures between Tirana and Belgrade. The International Labour Conference has concluded. M. Chattergee, in closing the Conference, declared the draft convention dealing with sickness insurance in industry would constitute the most tangible result of the session. Ho regretted the efforts of the Labour Bureau had failed to reach an agreement regarding freedom of association, but its work would not bo in vain, since it helped to define the problem. The Morning Post’s Geneva corres pondent is authoritatively informed that representations to Moscow regarding the activities of the Third International will probably be conveyed through Herr Stresemann. who will inform the Soviet that, while Europe is most desirous of maintaining friendly relations, there is a limit beyond which it will not tolerate excess.

The correspondent adds —Herr Stresemaim is greatly chagrined over M. Briand’s departure, of which no warning had been given, and has since caused the postponement of deliberations over the zone question for at least a month.

The League of Nations Council indulged in a brief discussion on disarmament, following upon Mr Benes reporting on the progress made by the Preparatory Committee. M. Boncour (France) claimed that the first reading of the draft of the project showed that there were more points on which they were agreed than points on which they disagreed. Herr Stresemann (Germany) considered that results were inadequate. He declared the whole future of the League depended on the accomplishment of this task. . *M. Vandervelde (Belgium) answered that the League had succeeded in reducing theories to realities. It was now for the Governments to declare whether they really wished to disarm or to begin new armaments competition. Sir A. Chamberlain said he was convinced that real progress was made. The British preparatory delegation was neither discouraged nor pessimistic. The Council eventually approved of the action of the Committee in postponing the second reading of the draft until November. In the meantime the Coolidge Naval Conference and the debate in the Assembly in September may put the subject in a new light. A second private conference of the [Locarno delegates, however, has resulted in a reaffirmation of the Locarno policy, and that the declaration of policy has already given, and will continue to give, definite results. There is no confirmation of the Paris newspaper Matin’s reports that, following on the German conversations, the Powers will address a collective remonstrance to the Soviet.

A private meeting of the Foreign Ministers decided that in the interests of European peace steps must immediately be taken to effect a settlement between Yugo-Slavia and Albania. PARIS, June 16.

Le Matin’s Geneva correspondent asserts that Germany has been promised a seat on the Mandates Commission. Le Petit Parisien’s Geneva correspondent says it is agreed that verification of the destruction of Germany’s eastern fortress shall be carried out unostentatiously by Allied military officials, and the disposal of the semimanufactured munitions expedited. Gustave Pcrtinax declares that M. Briand, on the eve of going to Geneva, failed to obtain the Cabinet’s agreement on the reduction of the Rhineland forces as a quid pro quo. GENEVA, June 16. The Australian Press representative has departed for London. He says that he has reported at length to Mr Bruce by mail, on the proceedings of the Economic and Labour Conferences. The former provided a lead for European stabilisation. It is significant that Austria and Belgium have already announced that they will try to work out the' recommendation. Tin? correspondent personally expresses the opinion that the League of Nationsi is steadily gaining prestige, and .-justifies keeping the League in functional preparedness.

SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON, June 17. The Central News Geneva correspondent has learned from an authontati American source that the “° 1 Naval Conference will not. raise th question of the Singapore Naval Base, provided that the Washington Conver tion is immune from criticism.