LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11929, 24 October 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

Received Oct. 24, 9 a.m. London, Oct. 22,

It is improbable that the League of Nations will meet in Washington before January 7 . It will more likely be in February. After the first meeting it will probably be suggested that annual meetings be subh aequeutly held in European capitals in rotation.

In view of the delay in the ratification of the Treaty by America the interesting point arises as to whether Germany could refuse to abide by the League’s decision if any signatories to the Peace Treaty declined to participate in the League. An eminent Dutch jurist has furnished the opinion that Germany, by signing and ratifying the Treaty 7 , waived the right to object to the League even it any other nation does not ratify 7 it. The legal opinion is that it is, impossible to maintain that the League will only come into force by the adhesion of all signatories. There are many reasons why incomplete Council meetings may ho held, but Germany would have to recognise the decisions even of an incomplete Council. She might have had grounds for objection if the League’s Covenant had been an agreement apart from the Peace Treaty.

Received Oct. 24, 10 a.m. Washington, Oct. 23

Mr Strauss, former Ambassador to Turkey, in a speech, said: —If we send the Treaty back with amendments or drastic reservations it would compel Britain, in order to agree with them, to exclude from the League Assembly the Do minions, such as Australia and Canada, whose valiant armies contributed materially to winning the war, and whose id'eais of liberty are akin to ours.