LEAGUE AND MANDATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17652, 13 December 1920, Page 5

LEAGUE AND MANDATES.

REMINDER TO POWERS.

AUSTRIA'S ADMISSION.

AN AUSTRALIAN CONDITION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. GENEVA. Dec. 10. In order to conclude- business by December 18 at the latest, the League of Nations Assembly decided to hold two sessions daily. The Council's report on the mandates and the creation of a permanent commission shows that M. Hymans on November 30 telegraphed to the Allied Powers urging the extreme importance of issuing the mandates, and requested necessary information for the Assembly before the end of the session. He added : "However great its desire to see the Allied Powers agreed upon the draft mandates, the Council cannot, in default of such agreement, indefinitely postpone its obligations under the Covenant in regard to the issues of the mandates."

The Assembly discussed and adopted the report of the sub-committee on the economic weapon. The report is merely academic, and raises a number of questions which only the permanent Blockade Commission can investigate and determine.

During the commission's uiscussion on the motion to admit Austria, Mr. E. D. Millen said that he had been convinced hy the testimonial of Austria's former enemies, but he made one reservation. Germany appeared inclined to make claims for Pacific islands. Australia did not wish to risk having enemies established at her doors. He would like to know Austria's attitude on'that subject. If she were acrmitted to the League subject to this reservation. Australia was entirely favourable to Austria's admission.

Over two hours were occupied in discussing whether it was a question of procedure or amendment of the Covenant for the First Commission to recommend the method of electing the non-permanent members of the Council. Mr. Millen objected to the fixation of the period, thus tying the hands of the succeeding Assembly.

Mr. Wellington Koo (China) reporter to the commission contended that as the limitation of the period could be ultimately altered by some future Assembly it was not -an attempt to amend the Covenant. Finally a. compromise was arranged whereby the non-permanent members of the Council will be elected for a year, and the commission's recommendation will be sent to the commission dealing with amendments to the Covenant for consideration.

Mr. E. D. Millen, who has been mainly devoting himself to the Budget Commission this week, in an interview, said there had been spirted contests between those who were apparently inclined to accept the secretariat's proposals, and those endeavouring to impose a check on excessive expenditure. Although it could not be said that entirely satisfactory safeguards had been secured, certain definite checks had been obtained and a distinct step gained by the appointment of a committee to inquire into the organisation and salaries of the secretariat and Labour .organisation. There was still a "chance that some more equitable apportionment of expenditure between members of the League would be evolved, instead of the existing system. He was hopeful of securing relief for Australia's heavy contribution, but the countries benefiting untter the postal convention scheme were fighting vigorously against alteration. Mr. Millen and a number of delegates were conscious of the difficulties oi bihnguahsra, and drafted a resolution suggesting that children be taught their mother tongue and another easv means of international communication He asked the secretariat to report to the next session on the results attending the teaching of Esperanto. b