CANADA AND LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19744, 17 September 1927, Page 11

CANADA AND LEAGUE.

ELECTION TO COUNCIL. VOTING IN ASSEMBLY* ~ BELGIUM LOSES HER SEAT. INTERESTING INCIDENTS. (Received September 16, 5.5 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. " LONDON." Sept. 15. Despatches from Geneva state that Canada, Cuba and Finland were to-day elected to non-permanent seats on the Council of the League of Nations. The polling was as follows: —Cuba, 43 votes; Finland, 53; Canada, 26. The unsuccessful candidates were: Greece, 23; Portugal, 16; Uruguay, 3; Denmark, 2; Siam, Switzerland and Haiti one each. After the defeat of Belgium the Foreign Minister of that country, M. Vandervelde, smilingly mounted the tribunal and said he was certain the vote was based on a question of'principle, and was not directed against Belgium. His country,' he said, would continue whole-heartedly to cooperate with the League in the interests of the peace of the world. In recognition of the former services of Belgium, the Council has requested her to retain her seat on the Preparatory Disarmament Commission.

Belgium, as one of the signatories to the Treaty of Locarno, desired to retain her seat on the Council, but was thwarted by her failure to gain the requisite twothirds majority in the Assembly declaring her eligible for re-election. The voting was 29 to 19 in her favour, or three short of the -requisite number. Canada's chances were strengthened by Belgium's failure. There was a delightful incident when the British and German Foreign Ministers, Sir Austen Chamberlain and Herr Stresemann were appointed scrutineers; for the election to the Council. Ihe two famous figures rose amid cheers and proceeded to the tribune, and then paused on the steps, as each invited the other to take precedence. Finally they ascended arm in arm,, amidst roars of laughter and applause, which was redoubled when the French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, came up to vote, and Sir Austen invited him to take a seat at the scrutineers' table.

The result of the voting was received with equal good humour and applause by the delegates in the crowded Assembly Hall. The members of the British delegation congratulated the Canadian delegate, M. Raoul Dandurand, who will bold Canada's seat. The failure of Belgium to establish her re-eligibility for election at the morning session is generally regarded as m no sense a result of hostility, but in view of the fact that she has sat on the Council for several years. it was thought it .would be advantageous for the nonpermanent .seats to go in turn to the other small Powers.

The general opinion in the morning tjiat this decision meant the first election of a British Dominion, which the voting confirmed. Canada secured one vote over; the simple majority required. British circles are much gratified* believe the elation of ■ Canad? will be welcomed ■throughout the Empire as more closely associating the Dominions with the work of the League. < ■

The Belgian Government early last month decided to request the League Assembly at the present sitting to declare Belgium re-eligible as a non-per-manent member of the Council. kast vt<ar Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Salvador were elected non-permanent members for only one year, and at that time Belgium refused to demand re-eligibility, which was then only requested by Poland. As Belgium requested reeligibility the Assembly, before the Council elections, had to decide on the request, and could by a two-thirds majority have declared Belgium, which already had a non-permanent Coimcil from the beginning, ro-eligible. Tne Belgian decision iroused some surprise in League quarters because it was anticipated' that the Argentine, Finland and Greece would this month be elected Council members. Last year s practice of holding during the Council sessions special meetings of the Locarno and Rhineland Powers may have induced the Belgian Government to change its attitude. M. Vanderveldc'a presence in Geneva during the Council sessions next year being probably desirable in view of further private conversations of the Locarno Powers, he no doubt would have preferred to remain also a member of the League Council.

PBESS AND PUBLIC.

METHODS OF NEWS AGENCIES CRITICISM BY NORWEGIAN. (Received September IG, 8.20 p.m.) A. and N.Z. GENEVA, Sept. IS. A flutter of excitement was caused at a sitting of the Sixth Commission of the League of Nations held to examine the resolutions passed by the recent International Press Conference. M. Hambro (Norway) criticised the monopolies of the large international news agencies, and said it wajs very difficult for small countries to organise agencies of their own nationals. There was a danger that public opinion would be too much influenced and even paralysed by the methods of the present agencies..