LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18308, 19 January 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL. HISTORICAL GATHERING IN PARIS. )Sjr Telegraph—Prese Association—Copyright A. and JT.Z. Cabin Association and Renter. (Received January 18, 5.6 p.m.) • LONDON, January 16. The inaugural meeting of the League of Nations Council took place in the cloak, room at Quad d'Orsoy, Paris and was of a serious, businesslike character; M.i Bourgeois aoted as Chairman having on his right Lord Curzon (Great Britain), M. Matsui (Japan), M. Dacuitha (Brazil) and M. Venezelos (Greece), and on his left representatives of Italy, Belgium and Spain. Viscount Grey was present. Mr Lloyd George put in an appearance later,, but left after a consultation with Viscount Grey;' Qji" the motion of M. Bourgeois Sir Eric Drummond was formally installed as General Secretary. The( meeting also unanimously elected M. Bourgeois first Chairman. The inaugural speech by M. Bourgeois was a fine exposition of the aims of the League. i Lord Curzon, following him, expressed the loyalty of the British Empire to the spirit underlying the Covenant of the League. He said it was the inteu--1 tion of Britain to do her utmost to ensure its practical efficacy, in the firm belief that only through the League could we hope to avoid the horrors and miseries of the past five years being repeated, and that a new era of international relationships should now dawn. I Lord Curzon concurred with M, Bourgeois in the hope that America i would soon take her place as a main'her of the League. , On the proposal of M. Bourgeois it .was decided that the second meeting lof the League should be held in London on a date to be fixed. i At the close of the sitting ai Commission of five members was appointed to limit the frontiera of the Saar basin,- three being nominated by the Council and one each by France and Germany. The Council's nominees ara Colonel Waco (Britain), Major Lambert (Belgium) and Major Kohaia Ash (Japan). The sitting lasted an hour and a half. The publio were admitted to an adjoining room with wide alcove*' opening on to the conference chamber. PEACE TREATY. THE FIUME PROBLEM. By Telegraph—-Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.2, Cable Association. PARIS, January 13. 1 -The Anglo-French proposal to solve the' Fiume problem has been abandoned, as it is hot satisfactory to either the Italian or the Jugo-iJlarv delegations. Mr Lloyd George submitted a new scheme creating Fiume a corpus separatum under Italian sovereignty, while the League of Nations guarantees that the Jugo-Slavs shall have free use of the harbour and the railways. DEMAND FOB WAR CRIMINALS. ,' CReceived January 18/ 6.5 p.m.) LONDON January 14. 1 Tho M Daily Telegraph's" Paris correspondent reports that it is authoritatively stated that there ib no question of calling on Germany to hand over the military and naval commanders who observed the rules of warfare, but officers against whom there is definite Woof of such crimes as firing upon people while struggling in the water after the sinking of Bhips, the mutilation of wounded and violence against women <will be demanded. The list has been. carefully revised and is now reduced to 800 names.. The British, French and Belgian Governments have absolutely decided that • these must be handed over to the Allies ' particularly concerned. Thus Britain will deal with "the submarine sinkings. When the demand for surrender is made, details of the charges will be published, in Germany. The Paris correspondent of the " Daily Express" says that the Allies are unwavering in their demand for the trial of the ex-Kaiser. It is expected that Holland will not dare to refuse to surrender him. It is practically decided that the Crown Prince, will not be tried.

j, THE TURKISH PROBLEM. (Received January 18, 5.6 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that the Interallied Conference advanced the Turkish I question an important step by irrevoc- ' ably deciding that the Allies shall control the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. . The question of permitting the Turks ; to remain in CJonstantinope has not yet been settled.

| The Paris correspondent of the “ Daily News reports that though it has not been finally decided, there is no doubt that the Conference will adopt a resolution to allow the Sultan to remain in Constantinople.