LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19717, 18 February 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ADMISSION OF GERMANY. CONTINENTAL INTRIGUES. MAY CAUSE BRITAIN'S DETACHMENT. «Prew Association— By Telegrapn—Copyright. 1 LONDON. February 16. (Received February 17, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent states that Ministers are becoming daily more aware of the dangers and difficulties attending any substantial enlargement of the League Council, pome British circles take the view tnat if the present Continental intrigues continue Britain should make it clear at Geneva and elsewhere that she will henceforth adopt a position of marked detachment, leaving the other Powers to settle their own quarrels It is also felt that an attempt to rush through the special Assembly measures designed to introduce vital organic changes in the structure of the League would be extromelv unfair to more distant dominions. Constant communications are passing between Downing Street and the dominions. ~ . , “If the Cabinet deals with the international crisis which has arisen over the proposals to enlarge the League Council, the correspondent continues. "Mr Amery will formally submit South Africa s strong representations against , any enlargement beyond the admission of Germany at the present juncture. I understand that South Africa’s lead will be endorsed by two other dominions' pending a collective demarche by the remainder. Dominion opinion is indignant over the Continental intrigues, which are regarded ns a violation of both the spirit of the League and Locarno, iho dominions, moreover, are alarmed at the complications which are likely to arise for the British Commonwealth unless the intrigues am promptly stamped out. Ihe dominions fear that the League is in danger of being turned into a Latin syndicate. In view of the dominions’ objections a strong stand will be mode at Geneva in March against any fresh nominations to the council before September. On these matters the Empire should speak with one voice and in no uncertain tone. —A. and N.Z- Cable. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. BRITISH VIEW MISREPRESENTED. LONDON. February 16. It is learned on high authority that there is no truth whatsoever in the report circulated abroad to the effect thaGreat Britain has agreed to the proposal that permanent seats on the League Council should be awarded to Poland. Spain, and Brazil in addition to Germany. —Reuter FEELING IN BERLIN. GRATEFUL FOR BRITAIN’S FIRM STAND. LONDON, February 17. (Received Feb. 17, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent says:— "lnformation from London and Paris leads the German Government definitely to believe that Germany s entry into the League will proceed according to plan. It is understood that Warsaw has also intimated that it has no desire to prove an obstacle. It is recognised here tlifit it is the strong expression of British opinion which has taken the Locarno ship over another rock, ’ihe Tagliche Rundschan, the voice of the Foreign Office, says that Germany is not against Poland or any other nation eventually being given a permanent seat, but the structure of the League in fairness ought not to be altered until Germany has settled down to membership.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE VIEWPOINT OF LABOUR. LONDON, February 10. (Received Feb. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) In reference to the suggestion to give Poland, Spain, and Brazil permanent seats on th.e Council of the League of Nations, the Labour opposition has given notice of motion in the House of Commons welcoming the application from Germany for entry to the League, and supporting the condition that she shall thereupon reeeive a permanent seat on the council. The motion expresses the opinion that a concurrent increase of the permanent scats on the council in order to accommodate the claims of oilier nations might be regarded as a variation ot the Local no agreement, and should not be suppoited by the British Government. —Reuter. METHOD OF PROCEDURE. CONSULTATION WITH DR STRESEMANN. BERLIN, February 16. Sir Eric Drummond (Secretarygeneral of tile League of Nations) had a lengthy conversation with Dr Streaemann. It is emphasised that Sir Eric Drummond has not come to Berlin to discuss the question of the number of scats on the League Council, which is a matter for the Governments concerned, but to confer with Dr Stresemann on technical questions connected with Germany’s entry into the League—for example, the ceremony and procedure to be adopted at Geneva.—Reuter. THE GERMAN DELEGATION. BERLIN, February 17. (Received Feb. 17, at 9 p.m.) The delegation to the League Assembly will consist of Dr Stresemann, with Herr Gaus as legal adviser, and Herr Conschubert, Secretary of State. —A. and N.Z. Cable. BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE RESIGNS, BRUSSELS, February 17, (Received Feb. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) M. Hymans has resigned from the membership of the League of Nations Council, stating that in the present situation of international affairs the Foreign Minister of each country should personally take charge of the t discussions at Geneva. — A. and N.Z. Cable.