THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

, SMOOTHING DIFFERENCES. f SECRECY OVER COMMISSIONS. Bj T«l«grjph.—PrMJ Assn—CopjTlliit. London, Nor. 16. l'he Genera correspondent of the AusJjtralian Press Association states that Mr Millen fears, under the preliminary rules of procedure of the League of Nations there is a tendency to stampede the Council's decision through the plenary sittings. ,

Mr. Doherty (Canada) explains that his reported reference to the motion to gend a cablegram to President Wilson was erroneous. It arose through a mistake in interpretation. He had exclaimed that Canada did not wish to pay a tribute to the memory of any particular man. This referred to the proposal to do homage to -Rousseau. He understood the interpreter to say that Canada would probably abstain from agreeing with the cablegram to President Wilson, but this was not so. Norway, Denmark, and Sweden each Bent women reserve delegates experts on social questions. The Swedish and Norwegian ladies occupied seats at today's sitting. The Assembly decided to permit the head of a delegation to nominate substitutes on the various commissions, such substitutes shall not hold' the chairmanship of a commission. Mr. Millen objected to the proposals of Signor Trttoni and Mr. Fisher that the assembly should elect the chairmen and vice-presidents of the commissions. He held that the commissions should £leet the chairmen. India desired,that three of the vicepresidents should be non-Europeans in view of the fact that this was a world's League The proposal of Signor Tittoni and Mr. Fisher was adopted. . Baron lehii (Japan) supported India's suggestion, but both he and the Indian ■delegate decided, in view of the sympathetic speeches by European delegate*, not to press the matter further at present. •French delegates urged that the sittings of the various commissions set up to examine phases of the League's work ihoud be secret. Lord Robert Cecil declared that the league could only live by favor of the public opinion of the world, therefore it should take the public into the fullest confidence. Nothing would produce a . better impression than a definite Jnove by the League of Nations in the direction of the fullest publicity, thus jgetting rid of underground negotiation-.. He moved an alternative of the procedure rule to enable each commission bs far as possible to sit in public. Sir James Allen supported Lord Robfert Cecil, but thought each commission flhoutd decide how far it would admit ihe press, if not the public

Mr. Fisher favored the modified suggestion that a complete -official report should be issued, instead of admitting the public. Finally Mr. Fisher .accepted the (French revision, which was adopted.— jAm-N.Z. Cable Assn. Receired Nov. 17, 8.5 p.m. London, Xov. 17. The Assembly agreed that as the Commissions completed sections of their /work, a plenary session should meet imflnediately to deal with the matter. It 'would also arrange the commissions' meetings, and as far as possible delegates would participate in each. . The Assembly adjourned until to'.taorrow, when the commissions will be Jftppointed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.