REFORM SUGGESTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19453, 12 October 1937, Page 14

REFORM SUGGESTED

COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE PEACE TREATIES' POSITION MR. JORDAN’S PROPOSAL (From A Special Correspondent) LONDON, Sept. 14. As the press cables, no doubt, have stated already, New Zealand's delegate to the League of Nations, Mr. W. J. Jordan, the High Commissioner, proposed at the meeting of the council a very important resolution having for its object the reform, or reconstitution, of the League insofar as concerns the application of the principles of the covenant. Mr. Jordan, addressing the council, said that there had been a long lapse since the committee of twenty-eight was set up. The New Zealand Government in 1936 had said: — "We wish to see all the nations of the world, whether members of the League or not, invited to take part in the consideration of the terms and the application of the covenant, or of any other universal method of collective security that may be proposed in its stead.” Eight Reports Presented The New Zealand Government also had said it would support any proposal to that end. After several preliminary meetings a year ago, continued Mr. Jordan, rapporteurs had been appointed to deal with specific questions in connection with the covenant. Eight reports had been presented—four reports were still to be prepared and presented. They were indebted to those who had prepared them, for their painstaking work. If they did not give clean-cut recommendations for immediate action, that was due to the nature of the problems. “It is clear,” said Mr. Jordan, “that the many issues cannot be dealt with finally here and now. The suggestion is that the committee of twentyeight meet again at the close of the assembly. “But there is one matter on which it seems that we are all agreed—all including States represented here and also States not represented on this committee or on the League—that is, that the Covenant should be separated from the treaties of peace. “The possible methods of achieving this are mentioned in the secretariat s memorandum of August 21, 1937. “It is a straightforward issue, so much so that it was not considered necessary to appoint a rapporteur. Surely we can make progress on any point that we agree upon. Simplest Procedure “The simplest procedure suggested is on page 2, section C, mentioning a declaration by the assembly. It might be possible also to consider an assembly resolution placing on record the independence of the covenant in relation to the peace treaties. “Can this not be made almost immediately? A formal, explicit declaration by tjhe full assembly that covenant and peace treaties be separated would be a useful step towards consultation with non-members, at whatever date such consultation be taken. “I suggest that this committee agree that such a declaration is desirable and that a small drafting committee be set up forthwith to frame a resolution on behalf of this committee for consideration by the assembly, separating the covenant from the peace treaties.” Mr. Jordan on Drafting Committee This step was decided upon and a drafting committee was set up with New Zealand representation upon it. The air mail leaves before the text of the resolution, or the results of its presentation to the assembly can be known. This item, however, appears to-day in a leading London paper, from its Geneva correspondent: — “The League of Nations committee for the reform of the covenant has decided to appoint a drafting committee of lawyers to frame the main lines of a resolution for the assembly io pass, recommending the separation of the covenant from the peace treaties. This was proposed by Mr. Tordan, of New Zealand. “The committee also has decided to pursue as soon as possible its general discussion on the question of the universality of the League. This will have special reference to the advisability of asking non-members what changes, if any, in the covenant would induce them to join or rejoin the League.”