LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 27

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

• OPENING OF THE COUNCIL. DANZiG QUESTIONS WITHDRAWN. GENEVA, March 5. The League Council has opened. A resolution was passed asking for information concerning the .national status of the inhabitants of mandated territories from ' mandatories. It wag announced that the questions regarding Danzig had been withdrawn from the agenda paper, because the parties interested had been negotiating "direct.

A DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE. GENEVA, March 6. The day was largely devoted to preliminary conference discussion. The most definite event was the Arbitration Security Committee’s production of the draft of the model treaty on judicial settlement by arbitration and conciliation. It consists of 38 articles. Lord Cushendun, in a lengthy explanation, intimated that Britain could not accept the optional clause regarding sub mitting disputes to the internatk nal court of justice. France is thus far the only great Power to sign the optional clause.' . There has been considerable comment m League circles on the United States Note to France, the general impression being that America’s 'proposals need elucidation. When examined closely they do not reveal anv material difference irom the League’s Covenant. It i s freely , stated that the United States could work more effectively for world peace by joining the League. Prominent members of Die council also express the opinion that t’-uropean peace would be on a safer Uasis if Signor Mussolini could be induced to take a personal part in the work of the League Council. The hopes that the first general dis iooo m L Cnt conference would be held in lyat have been shattered, as it has been announced that all resolutions adopted by th e . Security Commission will be subject to approval oy the League’s Assembly As the assembly only meets in September a fore r i929 ent COnference is impossible be■The Mandates Commission announces that, in view of the appointment of a Rojml Commission to investigate the situaw?h nnf Western Samoa - commission will not express an opinion regarding the mXr n bUt Win deal Wl 'th the Koyal Commi/sion’s^repT/t’ will

AN OUTSTANDING FEATURE, rp. . GENEVA, March 7. llle ses Jion has already become remarkable for the number of informal meetings of groups and States. Such meetings between Foreign Ministers were formerly regarded with suspicion, and evoked protests, but there has been a change since the last assembly, when Sir Austen Chamberlain emphasised their value, urging that they in no way encroached upon the formal discussions of the Council and Assembly. No fewer than nine such meetings were held yesterday between representatives of two, three, or even a larger number of States. Some were very fruitful, and culminated in a private conference between Sir Austen Chamberlain, M. Bnand, Dr Stresemann, M. Scialoja. and Count Adachi, when they discussed the saint Gothard machine guns. The Big Five were unanimously of the opinion that too much should not be made of the affair, though it could not be ignored, therefore to-day, after a statement from both sides, it will be proposed to appoint a committee of three disinterested delegates to investigate and draw up a report. It is believed that the Little Entente will be placated by the facts being recorded in the League proceedings as a warning against a repetition of dealings in contraband arms. Dr Blokland (Netherlands) will offer his good offices to facilitate a settlement of the Polo-Lithuania dispute. It is declared that the Big Five have not yet discussed Mr Kellog’s outlawry note.

Dr Stresemann and M. Briand discussed the Rhineland question, but agreed to postpone it until after the French and German elections. The Council discussed the new League Palace, but nothing was heard of the proposal to erect it elsewhere than at Geneva. It is reported that the original estimate is insufficient, even with the gifts, which are numerous and valuable. It is believed that the buildings for the secretariat and the assemblies will cost probably £1,200,000. Sir Eric Drummond (Secretary-general to the League) will not sign any contract until all questions of design have been settled. TURKEY AND DISARMAMENT. GENEVA, March 6. M. Litvinoff, from Moscow, has telegraphed to the League stating that, on account of Turkey’s importance in international politics and through her geographical situation, the Soviet Delegation considers that the Disarmament Preparatory Conference would gain in importance if Turkey were included, and suggests that the- nation should be invited next session. "TRAFFIC IN MACHINE GUNS. GENEVA, March 7. After statements by the Little Entente delegates the Council accepted Sir Austen Chamberlain’s proposal that the documents gubmited by General Tancozoa (Hungarian

delegate) relating to the machine-gun parts should be examine* by a committee consisting of the Chilian and Finnish dele gates, who were empowered to call on experts.

THE SECURITY COMMITTEE. GENEVA, March 8. Lord Cushendun, interviewed on the work of the Security Committee, said that in view of Britain’s and America’s experience of arbitration model treaties they would probably not value them, but European States were less familiar’ with arbitration, and may find the treaties useful in framing a union, and may also be encouraged to conclude regional bilateral treaties. It was- very difficult for Britain to sign general treaties with unlimited scope. He must again emphasise that the Covenant of the League was the best measure of security obtainable. Other pacts were intended to fill imaginary gaps. He could not say how far they would lead to a practical measure of disarmament.

THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION. OTTAWA, March 8. The report of the Canadian delegates to the Economic Commission of the League of Nations has been tabled. The chief features are: A strong recommendation favouring th e greatest possible reduction in existing international tariff barriers ; a re solution against the export of raw materials, except for international conservation; a resolution against all special impediments to international trade, such as subsidies and the imposition of specially high tariffs for bargaining purposes in securing reduction in rival tariffs; and a recommendation to facilitate these objects by the negotiation of commercial treaties between different countries, always embodying conditions of most favoured' nation treatment to all others.

BRAZIL AND SPAIN. GENEVA, March 8. The Council unanimously adopted proposals to communicate with Brazil and Spain asking if their reasons for leaving the League still existed, adding that the League attached great importance to their collaboration. Sir Austen Chamberlain, M. Briand, Dr Stresemann, and other delegates warmly approved.

HUNGARIAN LAND OWNERS. GENEVA, March 9. The Council was all day long occupied with the dispute regarding the claims of Hungarian land owners in Transylvania against the Rumanian Government. A long. oratorical duel between M. Titulesco and Count Apponyi was fruitless, and the Council will possibly suggest a solution today.

HUNGARY AND RUMANIA. RUGBY, March 9. Sir Austen Chamberlain, at to-day’s session of the League of Nations’ Council, delivered the report on the dispute between Hungary and Rumania. He said that if the question remained unsolved it would be fostering a sore on the face of Europe, and would create a danger of war. He recommended two neutrals to be added to a mixed tribunal, to which Rumania will restore her judge, making a total of five members. All claims of Hungarians expropriated at tbg time of the reform scheme would be submitted to the tribunal.

Sir Austen Chamberlain admitted that the Council could not impose the decision unless both parties were agreed. M Briand (France) appealed to M titulescu (Rumania) and Count Apponyi (Hungary) to accept the loyal, sincere and logical proposal of Sir Austen Chamberlain Aftej all delegates had spoken in favour of the scheme, the debate was adjourned.

w GENEVA, March 9. “ That festering sore which is menacing European peace,” is how Sir Austen Chamberlain described the RonmanoHungarian dispute relating to compensation of Hungarians surrendering their property in Transylvania. Sir Austen proposed the reconstruction of the mixed arbitral tribunal of three dealing with the Hungarians’ appeals, and urged M. Titulescu to think twice before rejection or insistence on the reservations. M. Titulescu, despite appeals by Dr Stresemann and M. Briand, said that there was no chance of acceptance, but eventually he agreed to refer the question to his Government, and communicate its decision to the June meeting. The council decided to invite Costa Rica to reconsider its decision to leave the League. SPAIN’S RETURN DESIRED. MADRID, March 9. General de Rivera, after the Cabinet meeting, said: “We learned with pleasure that the League Council had raised the question of Spain’s return to Geneva. We are pleased that Spain should be considered a useful member of the League ’’