DEMAND FOR SEATS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 March 1926, Page 5

DEMAND FOR SEATS

ON LEAGUE COUNCIL.

BRAZIL ’ S DRASTIC ACTION

NEW CRISIS DEVELOPS

3Y CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. LONDON. March 10.

It is understood _ that apart from Brazil, another State threatens to resign from the League if Poland is granted a seat on the League Council.

The British Unified Press threw a bomhsheb in London when it first iannounced Brazil’s drastic action of threatening to> withdraw from the League if not granted a permanent seat- on the Comici 1.

Geneva telegrams show that during the secret sessions Sir Austen Chamberlain repeatedly appealed for a peaceful solution, urging the seriousness of the situation. M. Boncour similarly made an eloquent appeal in the name of peace, hut neither appeal moved the delegates who raised the difficulty. Before the Brazilian delegate made his surprising declaration, it was believed a virtual agreement had been reached, but the whole trouble recommenced. It was decided to summon an official Council session for Wednesday at 4 o’clock on condition that M. Briand, who arrives at noon, signifies approval. The Council wishes to force all countries to a public commitment-, thereby centralising responsibility.

GERMANY’S ADMITTANCE.

EVENTS TAKING DEFINITE TURN

GENEVA, March 10.

After a welter of Press conjecture on the significance of the interchange of diplomatic visits ana conversations, events took a more definite turn today with the sub-committee’s unanimous recommendation in favour of Germany’s admittance. It is expected ber entry to the Council will be discussed by that body as -soon as M. Briand arrives to-morrow morning. Delegates bound by the Locarno Pact sat in conclave all the morning. Word went around that the discussions on the Council seats would be transferred to the Council itself because MM. Boncour and Vandervelde -had both indicated that if the question was left in the hands of these delegates they would become a sort of subSta.te within th© Council, inimical to the League’s prestige. Most of the correspondents suggest that onlv Germany will now be elected, the- claims of other nations being referred to a commission.

Th© German delegation issued _ a statement that Germany was still insistent on her admittance alone. They denied that they were dictatorial; on the contrary, they were impartial, but strictly refusing to pledge themselves to support others because it was most improper to do so before Germany was a member, and also because they must have ©.xperience of the CounciPs working before deciding on the inexpediency of increasing the seats. Spain also issued .a statement that her claims were entirely unassociated with Germany’s, because the clalims had been under consideration for five years, and their rejection now would be a slight on the nation’s dignity. A Canadian correspondent at Geneva reaffirms that Canada and the Irish Free State disagree with Sir Austen Chamberiain, and if there are any enlargements beyond Germany they ask that the seat be occupied m rotation. Th© special correspondent at Geneva of the Australian Press Association says the excitement is Waning, and the delegates are now expecting that the session will be less eventful than predicted. The Germans qre chafing at the delay. They say they ea.me expecting, apart from the preliminaries, their admittance to he given effect to soon after the League assembled, quite overlooking the effect of M. Briand’s Cabinet troubles. However, the German viewpoint is winning sympathy. It i,s understood the absence of representatives of seven South American States is due- to differences of opinion regarding the question of a sent for Brazih but overtures have been made to accredit delegates without delay and thus restore the American block vote, usually mustering fifteen.