LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1925, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

| Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. LONDON, December 13. M. Tchitcherin, interviewed by the “Observer,” declared the Soviet has repeatedly but fruitlessly, approached the British Foreign Office with a view to Ahglo-Russian negotiations. Britain had now dropped the question of debts making the Soviet’s attitude to the League of Nations the acid test of Russia's worthiness of recognition. Personally, Tehitehorin failed to see how entry into the League could promote a settlement of Russia’s differences with powers who refused to recognise her. Russia had renounced all ideas of conquest and maintains hotarmy and navy merely for purposes of defence. She was prepared to abolish both and scrap her war industries il the other nations completely disarmed. She was also prepared Im- partial disarmament-.

PARIS, December 11. Political i nqiort a lice is attached to the fact that M. Briand gave a luncheon to M. Tchitcherin and M. Bukovsky at which M. Mcrriot and M. Doinouzie. who were previously associated with the Franco-Soviet negotia-

ions wore present. After lunch M. Briand and M. Tchit•horin had a private conversation. 11

is believed the latter displayed a desire for the creation of an entente sealed by agreement, which would lie followed hv a similar one with Britain and other western powers. A further interview is probable at the middle of the week. •• 1.0 Journal ” says the vital points an the Kreach side are an holiest settlement of the Russian debt to Eranee, the re-entry of Russia into European politics and a formal Soviet repudiation ol the activities ot the i'liird I ntcruatiuual. THE DAWES PLAN. LONDON. Dee. It.

The report on the first year’s working the Dawes Plan points out '.lull the two primary objects have been attained. The German budget has been balanced, with a considerable margin of safety, and the stability of the German currency has lieen lully maintained. The first reparations annuity ol me thousand million gold marks, has been paid, the creditor powers receiving payments regularly. The plan generally, says the report, is timctimi;ng smoothly, and has reduced the problem of reparations to a rational basis, hul, so far. four-fifths of the reparations have been paid from the Merman external loan. I lie reparations have, therefore, not yet been a burden upon the Merman budget, so that the real test is yet to collie. MOSUL DISPUTE. BRITISH ATTITUDE. GENEVA, Doe. 1.1. The llritsh attitude in regard to Mosul is explained in a lengthy statement from the British quarters, which emphasises that the British Government i.s anxious for an amicable settlement. hut says there can !>e no starting point for any discussion until the League has settled whether Iraq is entitled to retain the territory which has always been hers since the territory was loiistiUitcd as a State, or whether the Turkish demand for a complete reversal of the post-war .settlement sin old lie maintained. As .soon as the Council's decision has been given, it will he po-sihle to discuss any adjustments that might make that decison mutually more acceptable. Meanwhile Turkey’s view, as expounded by Tcwlik lfey at Geneva, and In Isiuet Pasha in the Angora A"'-ni-lilv. is that the League Council inis so far not attempted mediation. No 1 roposal has been made furnishing a basis of an understanding. LONDON. Dec. It, The “Morning Post’s” Geneva correspondent says: “A settlement of the Mosul dispute lias been brough infinitely closer as the result of a ro life .'cnee between the League of Nations officials and the [British and Turkish delegates. Tewtik Hey has gone to Paris to consult Eetfiy Bey. who is responsible for an assurance that Turkey will accept the League Council's decision. The League is now contemplating a majority if not a in.■millions recommendation, which should form the basis of subsequent AngloTurkish negotiations. This is regarded as the only manner in which an actual arbitral award can he remove-

from the League's jurisdiction without endangering the League’s prestige.