THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 9

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

WORLD AND ITS PROBLEMS. SEARCH FOR PALLIATIVES. REPORT ON THE MANDATES. FULFILMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. GENEVA, Sept. 15. The sittings of the Assembly of the League of Nations were continued to-day. Four of the smaller nations, in varying metaphors, approached the bier of the Protocol this morning and the dirges have not yet ended, as had been hoped. Finland talked of the possibility of the Protocol's reincarnation,- but- Dominica, whieh is immersed in arbitration with; its island neighbour, Haiti, on the question of boundary adjustment, sees in arbitration the best panacea that is worthy of the outside world's adoption. Brazil fears that the Protocol's corpse will poison a world already saturated with violence and misery. The most interesting contribution to the debate was made by M. Louchcur (France), who moved a resolution recommending the creation of a preparatory committee charged with the task of arranging a world conference to examine the economic difficulties standing in the way of the restoration of prosperity, and the best means of ending war-provoking and economic disputes. An Economic Crisis. M. Loucheur expressed the opinion that the evils of war were being intensified a thousandfold by tho economic crisis toward which the world was steadily drifting. Pre-war palliation, he said, was useless. There must be a radical cure which would be largely in the direction of international co-operation, and the fixing of an equilibrium in production and consumption. The League's bureau had nqw, apportioned numerous motions for the con* sideration of the commission. The main items on the agenda embrace arbitration, security arid disarmament. The council of the League this afternoon discussed the mandates commission's report on various matters, including loans, advances, and the investment of public and private capital. On the matter of loans the council adopted a resolution declaring that the validity of all financial obligations assumed by mandatory Governments in conformity with the mandates, and also all rights regularly acquired under the mandates, were in no wise impaired by the fact that a territory was administered under a mandate.. Transfers of Mandates. The council also passed a resolution confirming the principle that the cessation or transferflof a mandate cannot take place unless the council is first assured that all obligations legally assumed by a former mandatory country will be carried out and that all rights that have been acquired will be respeoted. The council agrees to use its fullest influence to ensure the fulfilment of all obligations. Sir Joseph Cook (Australia) referred; to the ambiguity of the motion. He asked who would determine the transfer of 'a mandate. ' It was explained that the matter was purposely ambiguous in order' to avoid the question of . sovereignty. a Sir Joseph Cook said that he was satisfied and did not press the point. He explained that the question of the cassation of a mandate through a territory acquiring its own Government was not likely to arise at any time, so far as could be seen at present, but the very fact that the council had: decided to protect the rights of private capital and mortgagees would certainly have an important effect upon the development of New Guinea in removing any hesitancy to invest money which would how be given the most complete security, while the purchase of land was now also safeguarded. THE PACT CONFERENCE. 1 iNVITATSON TO GERMANY. * —~_ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 16. The French Ambassador has presented Herr Stresemann, German Minister , for Foreign Affairs, with the Allies' invitation to attend the Security Pact Conference.