LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19906, 28 September 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

CLOSE OF THE ASSEMBLY. END OF HISTORIC GATHERING. (Pros. Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) ■ GENEVA, September 26. A huge agenda paper confronted the League on the closing day, traversing a wide range of subjects, from child welfare to defining how far the League’s international activities might go without offending national touchiness. The official reporter on this subject, a French professor (M. Barthelemy), wrongly concluding that Britain wished to tie down the League to rigid limits, permitted himcelf half an hour’s raillery at

Britain’s expense to the obvious enjoyment of the Latin representatives, but Viscount Cecil, with a characteristic mixture of sharp logic and tactful compliments, quite disarmed M. Barthelemey,

and carried the Assembly with him for a postponement of the thorny problem till next year. There was a suggestion of warmth in Viscount Cecil’s protest that no matter how carefully Britain worded her English texts France persistently managed to misunderstand them, adding as a solatium that the converse was perhaps as true. Another resolution hailed the Locarno Pact as a model on which nations might

fashion treaties of securities and arbitration, not necessarily to limited areas, but to different parts of the world. The' Anti-slavery Convention was adopted, Mr J. G. Latham (Australia) signing subject to ratification, but New Zealand is awaiting the adjustment of a minor technicality. The mandates debate was of the briefest, and was colourless. There was no sign that Germany will at present seek representation on the Mandates Commission. Dr Nintehitch (the president), in a closing speech, said that the two dominant factors were the reorganisation of the Council and the entry of Germany. He said he felt sure that the satisfactory solution of the crisis would produce good results, making the League’s principal organs better known, and their importance

generally understood. It was a great event when nations, which had divided in a hideous war, sat side by side in common obedience to the League’s covenant. He also considered that much solid work had been accomplished by the Economic and the Disarmament Commissions. —A. and N.Z. Cable. RETURNING TO THE FOLD. GENEVA, September 26. The news that Argentina is returning to the League has created a favourable im-

pression. It is regarded as the direct result of Germany’s admission. It is believed that the moral effect on Spain will be considerable. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ROMAN CATHOLIC FEARS. HOSTILE INFLUENCES AT WORK. LONDON, September 27. (Received Sept. 27, at 9 p.m.) That tendencies hostile to Roman Catholicism were working in the League of Nations was a fear expressed by Cardinal Bourne in a speech at the National Roman Catholic Congress in Manchester. Ho said he would not care to say that they had any influence upon the mind of any British representative, “but,” he added, “they arc there, and it is only by the Roman Catholics throughout the Empire entering into the work of the League of Nations that this hostile influence can be counteracted and overcome.” Cardinal Bourne said he considered that the departure of Brazil and Spain was a distinct menace to the independence of the League.—A. and N.Z. Cable.