LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

SLAVERY CONVENTION. COMMONWEALTH ATTITUDE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 11. The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia has sent a lengthy letter to the League of Nations concerning the convention on slavery. It is. pointed out that no slavery exists in Australian territories, and that the only forced labour is where it is specially permitted for public works and the growing of native foodstuffs. The Commonwealth Government says it is prepared to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of international Justice on disputes arising from the interpretation or application ot the convention. It is also favourable to the Norwegian proposal to study the native labour question with a view to international action being taken. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL. AUSTRALIAN VIEW STATED. A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. July 10. The Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, laid on the table in the House of Representatives a- copy of the agenda of the seventh session of the Assembly of the League of Nations, which is to be held at Geneva in September. The Commonwealth Government, said Mr. Bruce, was of the opinion that the Council of the League should continue to consist of permanent and non-permanent members; that the permanent seats should be restricted to the great Powers; that a permanent seat should be given to Germany when that country becomes a member of the League. The Government considered that the active co-operation of Germany within the League would be a very great factor m the pacification of Europe, and therefore of the world. It was also the opinion of the Government that the present number of seats on the Council of the League could not with advantage be increased very much; and that all the members of the League who are not permanently represented on the Council should in rotation haye the opportunity of taking part in the work of the Council. The Government had grave doubts whether any advantage would be gained by a fixed number of non-permanent seats on the Council being allocated according to geographical divisions.