LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 19

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

THE BLOCKADE PROVISION. PARIS, February 23. The Council of the League of Nations constituted an International Blockade Commission, which will study the application of Article 16 of the covenant. The commission will include representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. The council decided to hold an international conference at Geneva, at the end of June, which will inquire into the question of the exploitation of women and children. On the motion of Mr Balfour the council decided that the discussion on mandates over certain countries previously belonging to Turkey should be postponed till the next session. JAPAN’S RESPONSIBILITY. TOKIO, February 23. It is stated that the Foreign Office is drawing up a proposal, to be submitted to the Allies, for a revision of the Covenant of the League of Nations, in order to harmonise with the changes in the world's conditions since the instrument was first formulated. The Government especially desires the insertion of a clause asserting Japan’s special position in the Far East, and her responsibility for mantaining peace there. THE JAPANESE MANDATE. PARIS, February 25. The Council of the League of Nations briefly discussed America’s intervention in the matter of the Yap mandate. It is understood that some of the members consider that the Supreme Council, which formally assigned the island to Japan, must bear” the responsibility, on the ground that the duty of the League Council is confined to seeing that the mandates are discharged according to the terms imposed. SPRINGING A SURPRISE. PARIS, February 22. A surprise was sprung on the (Council of the League of Nations, which was about to discuss the mandates, when it found the American Ambassador’s letter stating that President Wilson desired to submit his views, and requesting that no final decision should be taken on any point whatever on the question of mandates until his views are received. The Note embodying his views has reached Paris, and is being deciphered. The Council has agreed to wait.