LEAGUE COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 February 1926, Page 5

LEAGUE COUNCIL.

INCREASING THE SIZE

BRITISH ATTITUDE NOT YET DEFINED.

U'i CABLE —mass ASSOCIATION—COB 1 ItlUU'l LONDON, Feb. 24. In the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Austen Chamberlain) was asked whether he was able to inform the House of the attitude he had been instructed to adopt at the forthcoming meeting of the council of the League of Nations on the subject of the further increase of the permanent membership of the council beyond the admission. of Germany. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied that the Government had not yet decided on its course. He denied that an extraordinary session of the council of the League had been called to deal exclusively with the question of the admission of Germany. Asked if extensions of the membership of the council of the League beyond Germany had been discussed at Locarno, Sir Austen Chamberlain replied in the negative. He said the Powers represented at Locarno who were members of the council had already expressed willingness to support the selection of Germany on a permanent seat, but no question had been raised as regards the claims of other Powers. He had never heard it suggested then or earlier that an agreement to support Germany impliejj, an agreement to oppose every other change.

The possibility of Britain supporting further candidates for the_ League Council was indicated by Sir Austen Chamberlain at Birmingham this week. After pointing out that the composition of the council had already been debated before Germany’s entry came into the sphere of practical politics, he said he would not discuss individual claims, but pointed out that the council consisted* of 11 members, including Germany. He asked whether 11 was sufficient to speak the moral judgment of the world when in the most critical circumstances six of them might be unable to vote or participate in the decision because they were themselves interested parties, and the views of the council might be the views of a minority. Sir A. Chamberlain expressed the opinion that this was putting too great a strain upon their loyalty and faith. He said that if suitable additions to the council could be found there was good reason for some addition to their numbers.