LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ASSEMBLY AT GENEVA. SOME MEMORABLE SPEECHES. ECHOES OF THE PROTOCOL. POLE’S PICTURESQUE PHRASE. Pmi Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, GENEVA, September 11. Echoes of the Protocol continue to resound. During a general debate on the league of Nations’ annual report M. Skrzynski (Poland) coined the most picturesque phrase of the day when he declared, “Wo have provided the outline of the edifice. All Governments must now break stones to build it.’’ —A. and N.Z. Cable. CHINESE DELEGATE’S APPEAL. MILD SENSATION CREATED. GENEVA, September 11. Chu-Ohao-hsin created a mild sensation in tho Assembly by appealing undei; Article 10 of tho Covenant for the revision of all treaties between the Powers and China, and also for a reduction of the Powers’ extraterritorial rights which, he declared, were responsible for the present financial and economic position. Router. CHINESE AND FRENCH ORATORY. . THE AUDIENCE THRILLED. GENEVA, September 11. New ground was broken at Hie League discussions by Chu-Chao-hsin, Chinese Ambassador in London, who in polished English, asserted that China was worse off than tho losers of the Great War, because the victorious Powers with which China associated herself in the world struggle were still enjoying extraordinary privileges and concessions in China lender old treaties, a readjustment of which she urgently pleaded for in the light of her present position and the now spirit abroad *lll the world. Chu-Chao-hsin easily he d the record for duration of applause from tho delegates and spectators, who remained in tho galleries till late in the aftcrThcn M. Boncour mounted the tribune and thrilled the packed assembly with a brilliant impassioned speech pleading tor security as an essential preliminary to disarmament. It was a spellbinder s effort, and there was a memorable scene at tho close, delegates of the Latin races flocking round and shaking M. Boncour s 1 discount Cecil paid the British tribute. The president said that such a stirring speech defied impromptu translation. Ho asked the delegates to await tho official transcript.—A. and N.Z. Cable. M. BONGOUR’S BRILLIANCE. AN APPEAL lOR THE PROTOCOL. GENEVA, September 12. M. Boncour’s was the most brilliant speech ever heard in the Assembly. He affirmed that Franco maintained an unwavering faith in the League. Tho present Assembly must fulfil the will of those who died in tho Groat War to end war. If they were going to kill the Protocol, which gave a full hope to tho peoples of the -world, something else must be substituted for it. He favoured compulsory arbitration. M. Boncour challenged anyone to find anything m the Protocol that was not contained in the Covenant. Tho opinion is expressed in some quarters that the speech may start an avalanche for the resurrection of the Protocol or at least to keep it alive pending the outcome of tho Security Pact negotiations. —A. and N.Z. Cable, AND DOMINIONS. MR CHAMBERLAIN DEFINES ' RELATIONSHIP. GENEVA, September 11. Addressing journalists, Mr Austen Chamberlain said that no pact signed by Britain could in any way bind the dominions. While they were under the oft-cnuneiatecl maxim that Britain’s war, as was the case in 1914, was the Empire s war, it \\as the domonions’ right to decide whether they would provide one man or one shilling. Though Australia had incurred obligations under the League Covenant she’'was not involved in Hie Pact until she ratified it.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE PACT CONFERENCE. FREEDOM OF THE DOMINIONS. « GENEVA, September 11. Mr Austen Chamberlain, interviewed, said that the Gormans were being invited to the Pact conference at a time and place not yet decided. He hoped that Italy would" he present. . Questioned regarding the effect of l.ntain signing an agreement without the dominions Mr Chamberlain replied : “We have no right to decide for any self-governing country. They take their own action freely. We do hot make pretensions to bind them. The British Empire is the most perfect form ot League of Nations on a small scale, always acting in complete harmony and at perfect peace.”— Router. PRESS CRITICISM. BRITAIN THROUGH FRENCH EYES. LONDON, September 11. The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says it was hardly to be expected that Mr .Chamberlain’s speech at Geneva would bo approved in Paris. Behind all criticism ot tho speech lies the feeling that the British Empire is striving above everything else to evolve an international system primarily suitable to her own needs and desires. Le Temps contains the criticism uttered by most Frenchmen every day, that Britain" shows a lack of comprehension of events during the post wai period. She realises that her traditional isolation is no longer passible, but is unwilling to bind herself to anvthing for the future. Britain likes to interest herself in the -affairs of Europe and _ even claims to direct them, alwavs insisting upon reserving full liberty in all eventualities to act in her own interest.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A DISARMAMENT PROGRAMME. GENEVA, September 11. The only other incident of the day was the Hollander, M, Ixnidon’s warm appeal for an international disarmament conference, and his motion that the Assembly request tho Council to create a special organisation to prepare a draft for a disarmament programme.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TURKS IN MOSUL. SINISTER ACTIVITIES REPORTED. GENEVA, September 12. (Received Sept 13, at 5.5 p.m.) Reports of which tho truth is not authenticated have been circulated among the delegates stating that <IO,OOO Turkish troops, mostly regulars, have concentrated on tho Mosul frontier, hiding in the hills during the daytime and advancing across the Brussels line at night in time to avoid detection by aeroplanes.—Sydney Sun Cable.