GENEVA GOOD HUMOUR

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1927, Page 9

GENEVA GOOD HUMOUR

DELIGHTFUL ETIQUETTE NEWS, AGENCY MONOPOLIES. SBCUEITY EXAMINATION. (United Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received 9 a.ni.) GENEVA, September 15. There was a delightful incident when. Senior Enrique- Villegas- -appointed- Sir . Austen Chamberlain and Dr Streseihann scrutineers at the League Council elections.

The two famous figures rose amid cheers and proceeded to the Tribune. They paused on the steps, each motioning the other to take precedence. Finally they ' ascended arm in arm, amidst roars of laughter and applause, which was redoubled when M. Bviand, on coming up to vote, w r as invitingly motioned to a scat at-the scrutineers’ table by Sir Austen Chamberlain,

The result of the voting was received; with equal good humour and applause by the crowded Assembly Hall,

'*liie members of the British delegation, congratulated Mr Daudurand, who will hold Canada’s seat. Belgium Is failure to establish her re-eligibility; .at-the, morning session is generally regarded as- in no manner the result of hostility, but in view of the fact. she. w r as to sit on the Council for several years ft 'would be advantageous 'for "the non-permanent seats to,'go \mjturn -to other .small powers. The general opinion : in ; the morning Was' that the decision meant the first election of ’a British dominion, which the voting confirmed. Canada secured one - .over the simple majority required.

British circles are very gratified, and believe it will be welcomed throughout the Empire as more closely associating the dominions with the League V w r ork,. , A flutter of excitement was caused during the Sixth Commission’s examination of the resolutions of the International Press Conference. M. Hambro (Norway) criticised the monopo-. lies of large international news agencies and said it was very difficult for small, countries to organise agencies of their own, nationals. There w r as . danger/ of public opinion becoming over-influenced, grid even paralysed,' by present agencies methods.

M. Boucour will suggest tomorrow that a preparatory disarmament conference . should be held to examine the question of security as well as disarmament, arguing that it should co-or-dinate agreements or more clearly define the Articles of the Covenant regarding arbitration, or adapt the Protocol to particular conditions ruling in different countries.

SECURITY-PRE-EMINENT.

MUST PRECEDE DISARMAMENT,

' ’(Received -issflj p. ra .) S., J;. ~ GENEVA,.’September 16,

M. Paul Boncour (Prance) in addressing the- committee -which is considering disarmament, declared-that the development- of arbitration - had reduced ■ the fear of war, but so far it was insufficient. Security must- precede disarmament, and- to realise this the Pre-paratory-Disarmament 'Commission must define'the guarantee, in order to 'be successful. He was convinced that such reorganisation of security to ensure disarmament would enable special security agreements, inspired ..by the Covenant. The, Preparatory Commission must .-request states objecting To the Protocol To define their, objections, which, had apt yet; ijeen done. .. Heel enied. that. the. Protocol was continental. , Such a character would be «o«trary to the -spirit of the League. —A; and N.Z. , ,