SESSION CLOSES

Southland Times, Issue 19986, 28 September 1926, Page 7

SESSION CLOSES

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY LIMITS OF ACTIVITY DISCUSSED BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE RIDICULED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Geneva, September 26. A huge agenda paper confronted the League on the closing day, traversing a wide range of subjects, from child welfare to defining how far the League’s international activities might go without offending national touchiness. The official reporter on the latter subject, a Frenchman, Professor Barthelemy, wrongly concluding that Britain wished to tie down the League to rigid limits, permitted himself half an hour’s raillery at Britain’s expense, to the obvious enjoyment of the Latin representatives, but Lord Robert Cecil, with a characteristic mixture of sharp logic and tactful compliments, quite disarmed Barthelemy and carried the Assembly with him for the postponement of the thorny problem till next year. There was a suggestion of warmth in Lord Robert Cecil’s protest that no matter how carefully Britain worded her English texts France persistently managed to misunderstood them, adding as a solatium that the converse was perhaps as true. Another resolution hailed the Locarno Pact as a model on which the nations mightfashion treaties of security and arbitration, not necessarily confined to limited areas, but applying to different parts of the world. The Anti-Slavery Convention was adopted, M. Latham signing subject to ratification, but New Zealand is awaiting the adjustment of a minor technicality. The mandate debate was the briefest and most colourless. There is no sign that Germany will at present seek representation on the Mandates Commission. —A. and N.Z. THE RHINELAND QUESTION. UNDERSTANDING BELIEVED TO BE REACHED. Cologne, September 26. Dr Stresemann, in a message to the Rhineland, states: “Amid the work at Geneva our eyes are continually directed to the Rhineland, of which we thought especially when greeted by the 48 nations in the Assembly, and during thorny negotiations. Rhinelanders, who in the dark hours were faithful and devoted to the Fatherland, may feel that that devotion is the foundation upon which we worked for the restoration of German liberty.” The message is interpreted to mean that an understanding has been reached regarding the Allied evacuation.—A. and N.Z. THE LEAGUE’S WORK. GREAT PROGRESS MADE. Geneva, September 26. Nincitch (Minister for Foreign Affairs for Jugo-Slavia), in a speech at the closing of the Assembly, said two dominant factors were the reorganisation of the Council and the entry of Germany. He felt sure that the satisfactory solution of the crisis would produce good results, making the League’s principal organs better known and their importance generally understood. It was a great event when the nations lately divided in the hideous war sat side by side in common obedience to the League’s covenant. He also considered that much solid work had been accomplished by the Economic and Disarmament Commissions. —A. and N.Z. RETURN OF ARGENTINE. FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION CREATED. Geneva, September 26. The news that the Argentine is returning to the League created a favourable impression and is regarded as the direct result of Germany’s admission. It is believed that the moral effect on Spain will be considerable.—A. and N.Z. ANTI-CATHOLIC INFLUENCES ALLEGED. SPEECH BY CARDINAL BOURNE. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, September 27. That tendencies hostile to Catholicity were working in the League of Nations was the fear expressed by Cardinal Bourne in a speech at the National Catholic Congress in Manchester. He added that he would not care to say they had influence upon the mind of any British representative. “But they are there,” he declared, “and it is only by Catholics throughout the Empire entering into the work of the League of Nations that the hostile influence can be counteracted and overcome.” Cardinal Bourne ’ considered that the departure of Brazil and Spain was a distinct menace to the League’s independence.—A. and N.Z.