WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 7

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

■ WELTER OF CONJECTURE' ; (Received March 11,' 10.45 p.m.) [ GENEVA, March 10. , After a welter of press conjecture | on the significance of the interchange , of diplomatic visit's and conversations, events took a more definite tarn today with the sub-committees unanimous recommendation of Germany’s admittance. It is expected her entry to the council will be discussed by that , body as soon as M. Briand arrives tomorrow morning. , The Locarnoites sat in conclave all | the morning and word went round that the discussions on council seats , would be transferred to the council itself because M. Boncour and M. Vandervelde both indicated that if the question 'was left in the hands of the t Locarnoites they would become a sort of sub-state within the council inimical to the League’s prestige. Most correspondents suggests that only Germany wil now be elected, the claims of others being referred to the commission. GERMANY INSISTENT The German delegation has issued a statement that- Germany wns . still insistent on admittance alone. They denied that they had been dictatorial but on the contrary had been impartial, strictly refusing -to pledge themselves to support others because it was most improper to do so before becoming a member. Also, they must have experience of the councfP* working before deciding the expediency of increasing the seats. Spain has also issued a statement that her claims are entirely unassociated with Germany’s because they have been under consideration for. five years. Rejection would now be a slight on the nation’s dignity. IRISHMEN DISAGREE (Received March 11, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. The Canadian correspondent at Geneva reaffirms that Canada and the Irish Free State disagreed with Sir Austen Chamberlain, and if there is any enlargement beyond Germany, they should ask the Dominions to jointly demand a seat to be occupied in rotation. ' SITUATION PUZZLING SOLUTION STILL" TO BE FOUND Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 11, 11.10 p.m.) GENEVA, March 11. Sir Austen Chamberlain’s and M. Boncour’s appeal prevented a rupture on Tuesday afternoon. They expressed the hope that M. Briand’s conciliatory spirit would find a solution. The Brazillian interviewed stated that he had acted on very restricted instructions. “It now remains to be seen what solution will be found • for Brazil's demand, for * seat, .wfeh dates

back to 1921. It is imperative that America should remain united demanding this recognition, if she is to have adequate representation "within the League. We promised to support Germany’s admission to the full Council on the condition that she merely occupies a place for the United States, and is willing to withdraw when the United States enters the League.” The German delegates continue to solidly hold on to the position, insisting only if she enters the council will she be fully restored to pre-war prestige as a world Power, but if the other Powers, which were less prominent before the war, enter at the same time Germany will lose her status as a world Power. Dr. Stresemann, when interviewed, explained tfyat the German delegates would not pronounce for or aqainr.t another candidate to the Council. This must be decided by the Council itself. , SWEDEN ANGRY HEATED DEBATE. IN COUNCIL. Australian and N 7,. Cable Association. , GENEVA, March 10. The League Council was involved in a heated debate, at a secret sitting, for three hours. Herr v TJnden (Sweden), angrily pounding the table, refused to accept any addition to the council except Germany, whereupon Senhor Mellofranco (Brazil) announced that he had been instructed to f -qm the League but first to vote against Germany unless Brazil was given a permanent seat. SPAIN’S CLAIM TO PERMANENT SEAT KeutPr'* To Iph ram MADRID, March 10. In a statement to journalists emphasising Spain’s claim to a permanent seat on the League Council, Senor Yanguas, the Foreign Minister, alluded to the intransigence hitherto shown by Germany and Sweden in opposing a further extension of permanent seat*. He said that an obvious reaction of opinion in favour of Spain had appealed at Geneva, and, apart from prevH ous reasons in support of Spain’s claim,\ a weightier one had now arisen, namely, that in the application of the I Locarno and other pacts between the ex-belligerent members of the council, interested parties would not be allowed a decisive, vote, thus increasing the necessity for the presence of an Impartial and influential element, and

Spain was the most important of the! neutral Powers. Sonor Yanguaa said that Ke believed that the present dark clouds were a prelude to real conciliation and wellorganised peace within the league. Later. It is understood that Spain is still obdurate, remaining firm in her re- I quest for a council seat, but well-in- ' formed people believe that the morale behind -Spain’s insistence is weaken- ! ing. Spain’s attitude is based on the ! ardent nationalism of Primo de Ki- :