THE LEAGUE'S BUDGET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 9

THE LEAGUE'S BUDGET.

CRITICISM OF SALARIES. PROTEST BY SIR J. ALLEN. COMPROMISE WITH CANADA. By Telegraph—Press Association— A. and NIZ. GENEVA, Dec. 9. "Discussion on the report of the Budget Committee of the League of Nations revealed that if all the States had paid their contributions by June 30 last, the League would have entered upon its second fiscal period with a credit of £100,000, instead of £500. The removal of the League headquarters to Geneva absorbed a large part of the League's working capital. The Indian delegates supported the Australian ■ and New Zealand delegates, and warmly criticised the salary list. The Jam of Nawanagar, Prince Ranjitsinhji, pointed out that the salaries paid were much higher than even those of the highly paid Indian Civil Service. Indeed, the general conduct of the League was on a decidedly lavish scale. Sir James Allen (New Zealand) opposed the contention that because the organising committee in Paris had fixed the salaries the Assembly could not .deal with them for five years. He pointed out that the Council meeting in Rome had provisionally approved the salaries until the Assembly confirmed the Budget.

The Assembly then resumed discussion on the technical organisations. Mr. N. W. Powell (Canada) announced that a compromise had been reached on matters of principle. Mr. E. D. Millen, Australia, wished to be assured that the organisations proposed were to be of a temporary and not of a permanent character. The president assured him that they were to be temporary. Mr. Millen was prepared to support trie report on this condition, and alter a dull debate the technical organisations were adopted.

ARGENTINA'S WITHDRAWAL LEAGUE AN ELECTION ISSUE. A. and N.Z. BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 9. The -withdrawal of the Argentine delegation from the League of .Nations Assembly appears likely to become the subject of a violent political controversy in Argentina. The newspapers state that the question will be the main issue of the Presidential election of 1922. Various patriotic, and civic organisations are preparing movements for and against the Government's international policy. The Radical Party has announced that it will hold public demonstrations in support of the President, Senor Irigoyen. Prominent citizens, on the other hand, who during the war organised the association of the Friends of France and her Allies, have called a meeting to protest against Senor Irigoyen's policy, a.nd have issued a manifesto stating that the delegation to Geneva has placed the nation in a ridiculous position before all the civilised countries of the "world. The newspapers generally also criticise the Government for its failure to announce its future policy respecting the League. THE ECONOMIC WEAPON. PROBLEM OF SEA ACTION. A. and N.Z. GENEVA, Dec. 9. During the consideration by a sub-com-mittee of the use of the economic weapon, Lord Robert Cecil said that a question to be solved was what Powers .were to exercise sea action. It would be unbusinesslike -to ask Australia to send a ship to, blockade a small European State, although it was clear that Australia and other members of the League ought to make some contribution. CASE OF BULGARIA. ADMISSION RECOMMENDED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) GENEVA. Doc. 9. The Fifth Commission decided favourably to recommend the admission of Bulgaria into the League.

AMERICA'S ABSTENTION. AN INVITATION DECLINED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. , Mr. Wilson, replying to an invitation asking the United States to send representatives to the Military, Naval, and Air Commission of the League, to discuss disarmament, regretted that as the United States was not a member of the League it could not take even de facto participation in the commission, ' although the United States Government was sympathetic with any sincere effort to evolve a. constructive plan of disarmament. ASIA AND THE LEAGUE. REPRESENTATION IN COUNCIL A. and N.Z. GENEVA. Dec. 8. On the motion of China, the First' Commission will recommend the allocation of three non-permanent seats in the Council of the League of Nations to European and American countries, and the remaining seat to Asia and other countries of the world.