LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 34

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

THE GENEVA ASSEMBLY.

A DEADLOCK REACHED. LONDON. March 12.

A communique from Geneva states that conversations between the signatories of the Locarno Pact, with the addition of Viscount Cecil and M. Boncour, were continued this morning. Various suggestions were made for a solution of the difficulty, and the meeting adjourned to afford time for reflection. The time of the next meeting was not fixed. A message from Paris says that according to the Havas Agency’s Geneva correspondent, the “Big Five” gave a promise of ending in a deadlock, but a tentative solution was reached—viz., first, Germany to be immediately granted entry 10 the League, wi'h a seat on the League Council ; secondly, that the question of the creation of fresh permanent members be referred to a committee to investigate the whole question of the composition of the Council and report in September; thirdly, Poland to be given a non-perman-ent seat on the Council forthwith. There is reason to think that the whole question of permanent seats will be reserved. For the first time the Germans to-day did nol oppose the granting of a non-permanent seat to Poland, but asked time to consider the matter. M. Unden (Sweden) does not oppose the immediate granting of a nonpermanent sea to Poland, provided that Germany consents. It was announced later that the Germans had rejected the conciliation proposals. (Received March 13, at 5.5 p.m.) Yesterday most exciting events occurred ot Geneva. Brazil and Spain waived their demands, but M. Briand urged the Germans to agree to Poland having a nonpermanent seat till September; On the Germans refusing to do this M. Briand upbraided them, but Dr Stresemann retorted, “The French have thrown the ball at us and we return it.” The result is a oontinuance of the deadlock. A GRAVE OUTLOOK. GENEVA, -arch 12. Sir Austen Chamberlain received the British journalists. He declared that there was no shadow of foundation for the report that he had been pressing the Swedish delegate, who was strenuously opposing the election of any new member to the Council except Germany to change his attitude. Sir Austen Chamberlain said his one aim was to avoid the disaster which was threatening the League and Europe. It is learned that yesterday’s meeting of the Council caused the greatest anxiety. It is not believed that the entry of Germany was endangered, but it is feared that such an entry, made in the circumstances, would frustrate conciliation efforts. DEADLOCK MAINTAINED. LONDON, March 13. The situation at Geneva this morning remained at a deadlock. Senor Mellofranco’s communication with Rio de Janicro resulted in a modification of Brazil’s attitude to such an extent she was disregarded in the day’s negotiations. Moreover, it is announced that M. Unden (Sweden) is confined to bed with bronchitis and it is unlikely that he will be able to attend the Council and vote. The Germans conferred with the French, after which the Locarno signatories assembled, Viscount Cecil being present for the first time, with the result that Germany was asked to agree to Poland having a non-permanent seat until September and that meanwhile a Commission be instituted.

Dr Luther and Dr Stresemann declared that they could not accept these terms. They pointed out that they represented only a minority of the Reichstag and had no authority to agree to any change in the composition of the Council before German’s entry. It is understood that M. Briand again made a pathetic exhortation to the Germans, claiming that a new situation had arisen and they must as statesmen adopt themselves to the new conditions. During tho arguments both sides threatened resignations. The Germans remained immovable, claiming Germany’s ecle and unconditional admission.

M. Briand, in a press interview, stated: “We have gone to the extreme l\mit of concessions. Germany agreed to enter the League without special treatment. Now she makes conditions which we cannot accept. We can do no more.” The Germans on the other hand resented the responsibility being thrown upon them. What will follow to day no one knows nor ventures to guess. There is still an idea that the whole matter will be postponed till September. One correspondent avers that it is only a matter of hours before the delegations will pack up. On the other hand is is felt tnat a solution may come at tho eleventh hour. Several sources indicate that the dominion representatives informed Sir Austen Chamberlain in the most direct terms that Ihey would vote against any increase of the Council apart from Germany. Despatches from Geneva state that Sweden offered to resign her seat on the League Council in favour of Poland and Belgium also offered to act similarly. A report from Copenhagen states that Poland is bringing pressure on Sweden to change her attitude, failing which she threatens an economic war.

Reports from Warsaw state that a mass meeting of students passed a resolution in support of Poland’s claim. Thousands marched in procession singing the National Anthem.

M. Briand has postponed his departure from Geneva, being nopeful of a settlement. It is regarded ae significant that

Sir Austen Chamberlain lunched with the German delegates. It is officially stated that negotiations of the “Big Five” having failed the question will be referred to the Council of the League immediately.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, in an interview, said that although he was mere hopeful yesterday of a satisfactory settlement of the Council membership problem as a result of M. Vandervelde’s passionate appeal, M. Briand’s conciliatory attitude, and his ofn efforts, to go one better, he now felt that Dr Luther’s rejection of their proposals made all efforts t continue the conversations useless. He described the outcome of the efforts as a tragedy, and added : “As to the future the whole affair is in the hahds of the League Council. It is impossible to say what the reaction of the latest events will be.”

POSITION NOT HOPELESS. LONDON, March 13.

While the London papers yesterday morning regarded the position as hopeless the Australian Press Association indicated the possibility of eleventh-hour solutions. These were forthcoming in the course of the day. Dr Luther and Dr Stresemann shrongly advocated referring the whole question of new seats to a Commission to report in September. In the meantime several minor States intimated their willingness to withdraw from the Council in order to facilitate the entry of the new comers.

A Council meeting officially decided, however, to convoke the Assembly on Tuesday for the consideration of Germany’s entry, following which the Council will meet for the purpose of cr. .ting a permanent seat for Germany. Thus the Council will be able to force all to show their hands. Failing unanimity Germany may withdraw from the League in which case the Council will appear before the Assembly in order to explain the position publicly.

Dr Stresemann conferred with M. Briand for two hours in the evening. Later, he issued a statement that it was a grotesque performance to invite Germany to Geneva and to keep her waiting for a week while nothing occurred except demands that Germany should accept various conditions before she became a member. He reiterated that he was willing to agree to the appointment of a Commission. Germany was ready as soon as she was admitted to do her utmost to solve the problem at the September session and pledged herself, whatever nations the Assembly then elected, that she would readily accept the decision regardless of whether she was in a majority or a minority. -J‘lt is ridiculous,” declared Dr Stresemann, that a peace policy should be shattered for the sake of the petty creation of a seat on the Council. The Locarno partners should stick together.” Dr Luther, addressing the German journalists, said: “We cannot differentiate between permanent and non-permanent seats, because our attitude is based on principles. We cannot bring pressure on anybody. We will support a Commission and wait and see what happens. The whole question therefore remains shelved until Tuesday unless in the meantime, as is hoped, everything is smoothed fer Germany’s entry unconditionally. The British press remains nervous. Many of the papers pass no comment, and those which do, lament the squabbling. The Daily Chronicle asks: ‘ Why does Mr Baldwin permit it? It says: “If Sir Austen Chamberlain said frankly that the Council had been called together solely to admit Germany the intrigue would have dried up instead of festering into an ulcer which is poisoning the League’s lifeblood.’*

The Observer cays: “A long week of squalid squabbling has besmirched the name of Locarno and discredited the League like nothing since its foundation. All its enemies are exultant and its supporters stand aghast. The Bolshevists and the Junker diehards rejoice. American alienation is now contemptuously confirmed. The friends of reconciliation in Germany are weakened. It is no time to be mealy mouthed. In Britain the whole episode has made a disgusting impression on public opinion. Every dictate of decency required that the letter and the spirit cf Locarno should be implemented before the claims of Poland, 9pain and Brazil were raised.!’ The Sunday Express says: “The whole world stands aghast at the cold-blooded murder of the Locarno spirit by a war cf grouping antagonisms, all of which have been resurrected in darker and deadlier forms.” The Sunday News says: “We are to blame for not having asserted ourselves sooner and made it plain to everybody first —that we regarded Germany’s sole admission as a point of honour arid secondly that it was our policy to reserve permanent seats for the Great Powers. REPRESENTATIONS OF SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, March 12. It is Bemi-officially stated that the Spanish Government officially made representations to the Swedish authorities in reference to the enlargement of the League Council, but the Swedish Government pointed out that Sweden’s position in this connection is purely a matter of principle. THE LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS. GENEVA, March 13. The suggestion to remove the seat of the League from Geneva to Lausanne. Locarno, or elsewhere, which was raised by Professor Mac White (Ireland) caused a flutter among tho members of the committee that is dealing with the project of building new League offices and an Assembly hall. Professor Mac White complained that only limited privileges and immunities at present were accorded to the delegates. The Swiss representatives, who were most concerned, gave assurances of 9wit*

zerland s willingness to meet the objections, and to grant all the necessary facilities. They would acquire the present Secretariat building at an equitable price and secure a site for new buildings. The committee accepted the assurances and decided, to erect new buildings at Geneva.