THE LEAGUE'S WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1844, 19 June 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE'S WORK.

OUTLINED BY Mfij BALFOUR.

MANY IMPORTANT,QUESTIONS - UNDER REV ; j (By Electnn Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 19, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, June 17. Aln the House of Commons, Mr Cecil Harmsworth stated that members of the League of Nations had hitherto contributed £170,000 to its fund. ■} ~: On the vote for British embassies ahd consular services, under which tho expenses for the League fall, Mr Balfour claimed' that the' League had already performed consider, "able services to the world. The permanent Secretariat of the League .would remain in London. There, would be a general .meeting of the League in November when its future would be decided. Mr Balfour mentioned that an office had been established for the registration of treaties. Henceforth, ,uo treaty would be valid unless it was registered and open for inspection. Ho stated that the question of the division of expenses among the members of tlip League would be submitted to the experts of the International Financial Conference at Brussels

Dealing with the four permanent commit-, toes established under the League— oh armaments, health, transit, and international justice respectively—Mr Balfour emphasised the importance of the work of the armament committee, and pointed out that everything 1 depended on the nations supporung the policv of disarmament. If each nation declined to adopt disarmament on the ground that armaments were necessary for its so-, eurity, then the tragedy for the League of Nations and the world would be great indeed. Dealing with the work of the League in connection with the Peace Treaty. Mr Balfour mentioned the appointment of the commission to delimit the Saar Valley and also the international body to administer the Saar Valley. The League hud appointed the, High Commissioner for Danzig arid who had framed the constitution of Danzig to general satisfaction, and was drawing up a treaty between Dantzig and Poland. The League was also dealing with the question of the threatened spread of zvmotio disease (supposed to be caused by some morbific principle acting on tho system like a ferment) from the east westward especially in Poland. The League had acted through the Red Cross Societies and appealed to nations for funds. The League was also supervising the return of prisoners from Russia and Euro'pe and vice versa. The League, was also considering the question of international .finance and the dislocation of credit, in regard to which a meeting of experts of 'the world would be held. The League was doing its best to find a European Power to undertake the mandate'over Armenia.

' Mr Balfour proceedod to protest against the activities of those enthusiasts who wero urging the creation of a super-State td direct force levied and paid for by the sovereign States of the world, and he declared the problem of bringing order out of chaos must be dealt with by the Supreme, Council, or otherwise those who were throwing that burden upon the League would be doing it tho greatest possible disservice. The League, if overloaded, would assuredly break down and the* most promising effort hitherto made in tho direction of new civilisation would be destroyed.—(Reuter),