LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18571, 25 November 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

THE ISSUE OF MANDATES. PROTEST BY GERMANY. By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 23.

Sir James Allen, in .an interview, said that ho was satisfied with the League's first week's work. The Commissions were making excellent progress, and would produce concrete proposals which would facilitate the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly. Both Sir James Allen and the Hon E. D. Millen are doing their utmost among members to get the Assembly to insist upon the Powers issuing mandates. The dolny is believed, to be due to the opposition of Japan, and to some obstruction by France. There was considerable delay on the part of the secretariat in circulating Germany's protest, which was sent individually to the members late last night, with the.result that among others the Hon E. D. Millen and Sir James Allen did not receive the document. When the Assembly met Mr Millen protested that individual circulation did not absolve the secretary from formally submitting the document to the Assembly under Article XIV. The document was so'Mghificant that it should not be sent to any Commission until it had been discussed by the Assembly. The president declared that the. document would be appropriated by the Coinmission for investigation. Mr Millen gavo notice of motion that the Assembly discuss it to-morrow, before sending it to the Commission.

The German protest argues that the duty of designating the mandatory States devolved absolutely upon the League, not upon any other authority, and protests against the mandates being exclusively within the sphere of the Allied and Associated Powers. Germany contends that the latter are only trustees until the mandatories are appointed, and they should derive no profit from such stewardship. Germany therefore desires the Assembly to discuss the colonial mandates in the letter and spirit of Article XXII. of the Covenant, otherwise Germany reserves her rights concerning the colonies. The Assembly adjourned until Thursday.

OCCUPATION OF ARMENIA. PROPOSED INVITATION TO AMERICA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 23. The Armenian debate at the Geneva Conference infused some life into the Assembly proceedings. The suggestion emanated privately from the overseas delegate to the British delegation that the League should -specially invite ''the United States to undertake the temporary occupation of Armenia, the League paying the cost. It is understood that 60,000 men would suffice to overawe the Eemnlists, and interpose a barrier between them and the Armenians, r.nd that such a demonstration of force would be Hkely to be effective, without active military operations. It believed that if America supplied the bulk of the troops, other nations would be prepared to furnish the balance.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. LONDON, November 23. It is anticipated that the International Court of Justice Commission will adopt the recommendations of the recent Judicial Commissions at The Hague, with some British amendments.

UNITED STATES ATTITUDE. CONFERENCE OF STATESMEN. . WASHINGTON, November 23. A conference between Mr W. G. Harding, the President-elect, and many prominent Americans, concerning the United States foreign relations, will, it is understood, begin at Marion on December 12 and last until February.- It is understood that Democrats as well as Republicans will be invited, including Mr W. H. Taft, Mr Hughes, Mr Elihu Root and Senators Knox, Johnson, Borah, Lodge, Reed, Shields and Pomerene. It is understood that these men represent the various views on th<J League of Nations controversy, and it is expected that after Mr Harding receives the individual opinions of his confreres, he will draw up a plan for the settlement of the League controversy, which will be presented to Senate in the President-elect's first address before Congress.