SHOULD LEAGUE PLAN BE INCLUDED?

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 20 March 1919, Page 5

SHOULD LEAGUE PLAN BE INCLUDED?

BRITISH SEE NO NECESSITY

WILSON MAY CAUSE SERIOUS DELAY.

(Received March 20, 9.25 a.m ) . . PARIS, March 18. Ihe British delegation does not see the necessity for including the League of Nations in the preliminary peace terms, because the Germans will not be a party to it, but there is no reason why the League should not be formed ■concurrently. . It is understood that ther c is some perturbation over President Wilson's unpreparedneiss to carry out the draft of peace terms, to which hia representatives subscribed m his absence. There were

one or two points reserved for his ap-j proval mainly concerning territorial matters connected with the Rhineland. [ Though the British are satisfied. that the inclusion of the League was not appropriate they were desirous to meet President Wilson's views. Some delay now appears to be inevitable, dependent on what form the League should be included. If it is intended to introduce the extended constitution serious delay may ensue. The artid.9 iv the League Covenant providing that signatories come to the assistance of any Power threatened may induce President Wilson to say to the French that they have no cause to worry over territoriai security in the Rhineland, if this particular clause is included in the preliminary peace, as it will give every security' they want. On the other hand France may ask what the League really means and what are the precise terms and' methods by wliich assistance will be afforded. It is believed that President Wilson does not raise any objection to the naval and military terms.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.