LEAGUE DEADLOCK

Southland Times, Issue 19823, 20 March 1926, Page 7

LEAGUE DEADLOCK

DELEGATES RETURN SIR JOSEPH COOK’S OPINION CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES FORECASTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, March 18 Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen arrived from Geneva. Interviewed, they said they returned very disappointed with the unfortunate results at Geneva. Sir Joseph Cook said that what happened was that which was always liable to happen to any parliament, namely, a single recalcitrant member had been enabled to hold up the whole proceedings, but in such a sitting, with the whole of the world’s press focussing on the conference, it had appeared with magnified seriousness. He was quite confident that all difficulties would be cleared away in September. Asked what guarantee there was that some other recalcitrant would not appear in September and repeat Brazil’s intransigeance. Sir Joseph Cook replied that before September the constitution of the League would be very closely overhauled with a special view to preventing a repetition of the contretemps. Questioned concerning rumours that the dominions were seeking a seat on the Council, Sir James Cook was not inclined to take the suggestion seriously. Sir James Cook simply commented: “Well, they are far more entitled to sit than some of the small nations that are struggling for one.” Asked whether there was any indication of the dominions taking their own line irrespective of British policy, Sir Joseph Cook replied, “In my opinion the Empire delegation is now, and must always be, a single diplomatic unit.” Sir James Allen said it would appear amazing to most people that a power like Brazil should be able to hold up the whole business of the Assembly. Anyhow, he believed the event would lead to important reforms in the League methods of procedure. The only happy feature of the recent Assembly was the unity of the Imperial legation. Sir Austen Chamberlain consulted with and confided m the dominion representatives in the most free and frank manner throughout, and had the satisfaction of knowing that they were always solidly behind him. —A. and N.Z.

THE MANDATES QUESTION. NO PROMISE GIVEN. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, March 18. In the House of Commons Sir Frederick Locker-Lampson, replying to Captain Shaw, said that during the Locarno Conference Germany was told as a member of the League that she might be a possible candidate for colonial mandates, but it was incorrect to suggest that any promise or undertaking was given. The question I whether such an undertaking had the i approval of the dominions did not, therefore, arise.—A. <fc N.Z. ITALY’S P.XRT. SPECULATION RIFE. FASCIST PRESS JUBILANT. (Rpc. 8.25 p.m.) London, Mar. 19. The part played by Italy at Geneva continues to cause speculation. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that when it became known that M. Briand assured Germany that she would be entitled to colonial mandates after her entry, a great outcry ensued throughout the Italian Press, which insisted that Italy had a prior claim. This considerably heightened Italian distrust of Germany’s entry, although no more was meant than that Germany would be as much entitled to be a mandatory Power as nt her members. The Daily Herald states that Fascist organs, especially Mussolini’s, express unqualified satisfaction at Germany’s failure to secure a seat, and infer that Mussolini achieved this result. It is announced that Italy is sending a commissioner to investigate the facilities in Brazil and Argentina with a view to increasing emigration thither.—A. & N.Z. REORGANISATION OF COUNCIL. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE. Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Geneva, March 18. It is understood that the committee to examine the question of the reorganisation of the Council will include members of the Council and representatives of Switzerland, Poland, Germany, China and Argentina. The last-named is an interesting inclusion in view of Argentina’s withdrawal from the League three years ago on account of a divergence of opinion, notably regarding the composition of the Council. It is also noteworthy that Germany is included though not yet a member of t*e League. The report of the Committee will be presented in September.—A. & N.Z. AUSTRALIA’S ATTITUDE. AGAINST ADDITIONAL SEATS. Melbourne, March 19. In the House of Representatives, Mr Bruce commenting on Brazil’s attitude in holding up the admission of Germany to the League he thought it deplorable that one nation should have been able to do so much to destroy the spirit which was shown at Locarno. Mr Bruce added that the Commonwealth Government took the view that nothing should have been lone at the i special meeting of the League Assembly i which would in any way prevent Germany’s admission and carry out the undertaking that she be given a permanent seat on the Council. He concluded that his Government had taken a very definite line and bad stated its views to the British Government that it was most undesirable there should be any increase in the permanent membership of the League Council beyond the admission of Germany.—A. <fc N.Z.