IMPORTANT ISSUE RAISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1926, Page 7

IMPORTANT ISSUE RAISED.

GERMANY FIRST CONSIDERATION. London. Feb. 14. It is uncertain yet whether the question of admitting a permanent seat at Geneva to any Power other €han Germany can be considered on March 8. The opinion inclines to the belief that only Germany’s application can be considered. The other cases must be considered at the regular Assembly in the autumn.

The diplomatic correspondent of the Observer emphasises the gravity of the new issues. He says that the British Government holds firmly that the extraordinary session of the Assembly to be held on March 8 is solely for the purpose of admitting Germany. Berlin messages indicate that Germany also holds this viewpoint. The correspondent argues that Germany must be admitted as a member of the League as it is at present constituted, so that Germany will be in a position to vote later regarding the admission of the other Powers, if any. ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. The Observer continues that French diplomacy has sought to counter Germany’s entry by packing the council with new permanent members—Poland, Spain and Brazil —but this is entirely a new issue. The British policy will bo determined by loyalty to the Locarno idea and honest restoration to Germany of the full status of a European Great Tower. The correspondent hints that a British statement may be expected, making the position clear, if manoeuvres for the simultaneous consideration of the eases of Germany, Spain, Poland and Brazil are pressed imperatively. In the meantime there is a significant report that Sir Eric Drummond, Secretary of the League, is going to Berlin to-day in order to discuss the position with Dr. Stresemanm

THE SOVIET S QUARREL. The Russo-Swiss reconciliation, upon which depends the Soviet’s participation in the League Disarmament Conference, is making little headway judging by Moscow’s official statement blaming the Swiss attitude for failure to settle the dispute through the medium of France, and declaring that Switzerland insisted upon eliminating from the text its declaration of anything that might be interpreted as an unqualified, expi ession of regret for the assassination of Vorowsky, also that Switzerland refused to consent to any formula establishing an agreement to compensate Vorovsky’s daughter. The Soviet statement, however, acknowledges with gratitude the efforts of the French Government.

A Moscow message states that M. Tchitcherin, in reply to the League invitation to participate in the preparatory meeting for the disarmament conference, hopes the obstacles arising from tho Soviet’s dispute with Switzerland will be eliminated, otherwise the Soviet will hold the Council of the League aesponsible for its exclusion.