LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

ARMENIAN REFUGEES. THOUSANDS OF SUFFERERS. RELIEF TO CONTINUE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. .Received Sept. IQ, 5.6 p.m. London, Sept. IS. A Geneva correspondent states that at a meeting of the fifth committee, dealing with relief work amongst Armenian women and children refugees in the Near East, Mrs. Allen supported a suggestion for the renewal of relief for at least another year. There were still a hundred thousand to be cared for, and she thought it would be deplorable to abandon the work, not only for the sake of the unfortunate sufferers, but for the prestige of the League. Australian women felt so strongly when last year discontinuance was suggested that they immediately opened a subscription list.

M. Sarraut (France) thanked Mrs. Allen and urged an expression of appreciation of the generosity of Australian women.

The committee agreed to recommend the continuance of relief for another year. The committee on intellectual co-opera-tion is considering a French proposal for the creation of a new institute in Paris for the co-ordination of scientific investigation throughout the world, the publication of books, the establishment of research laboratories, the exchange of scientific material and historical research. M. Bourgeois declares that if there is no intellectual co-operation there will be no League of Nations. In furtherance of the project the French Minister for Education v kited Geneva during the week-end and w'as most actively engaged in propaganda. When the committee was discussing the report of the commission on communications and transport Mr. Charlton bi ought up the need for abolishing passports. the discomforts arising from which did not tender to improve international relations. Sir Shewelyn Smith sympathised with Mr. Charlton’s complaint. The commission will consider the suggestion aert year.

THE NAVY QUESTION. DOMINIONS NOT CONSULTED YET. Geneva, Sept. 17. In reference to the relation of the Dominions to the navy question, the Empire delegation is keeping the Dominions’ delegatee posted, but they have not been in consultation so far. The Dominion representatives are awaiting the result of the discussions on the question before cabling their Governments. COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE. PROCEDURE NOT DECIDED. Geneva, Sept. 18. It transpires that the baas of the proposed pact which the sub-committee is discussing will be that all signatories shall undertake to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court of International Justice and submit all disputes the settlement of which if not provided for under Articles 12, 13 and 15 of the Covenant to the Council of the League, which shall give decisions by a majority vote, but the procedure in regard to arbitration is still to be settled, and, possibly in view of the objections raised by on? delegation, a separate body instead of the Council of the League may be established as a Court of Arbitration.

The question of partial agreements or so-called regional agreements between various States apparently led to considerable discussion. Finally the French proposal was agreed to, namely that so long as the Covenant was not universal, partial agreements should continue to exist, though coming within the scope of the general pact for mutual assistance, provided they were registered and published by the League. The Budget Committee of the League by 16 votes to 15 rejected the Italian proposal to increase the vote for health organisation by 200,000 francs. Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and India voted against and Australia and Ireland for the motion. The Canadian delegate was absent.

The proposal of Brazil and Portugal, however, to make a proposal of 130,000 francs was adopted by. 22 votes to 11. The present arrangements for the international exchange of health officers will be maintained. The committee voted 200,000 francs for the settlement of refugees, with a rider added by Sir Henry Strakoreh (South Africa i that the appropriation muat disappear in 1926.