LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14025, 31 March 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PROVISIONS OF REVISED COVENANT (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 30, 5.5 p.m. PARIS, March 29. The revised covenant provides that nations may withdraw on two years’ notice. No nation is compelled to accept a mandatory, the right is conferred on women to become delegates, such matters as traffic in arms and munitions are to be placed on separate lists, so that the various States may rgtify the covenant Without being compelled to accept any particular. ' '■ ' DIFFICULTIES OF REDRAFTING. [ ,- I ; FRANCO-AMERICAN DIVERGENCE.' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 30, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, March 29. A Paris despatch states that efforts at redrafting certain provisions in the League of Nations’ covenant in compliance with the wishes of friendly critics proved unavailing. It was asserted that every effort at redrafting emphasised the fact that charges could not be made without offending the susceptibilities of some nation. It was pointed out in high circles that the effort to provide special recognition of the Monroe Doctrine would probably lead to Japan proposing that her special rights in China be recognised. A report is current that Mr Wilson on his return to Paris assured M. Clemenceau that America would not support the full French demands in reference to the west bank of the Rhine and would not support France’s opposition to the amalgamation of German Austria with Germany, whereupon, according to report, M. Clemenceau offered his resignation on March 17th. THE DISARMAMENT QUESTION. RECONSIDERATION EVERY DECADE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 30, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 29. ’ The most notable amendments to the League covenant include the reconsideration of disarmament every decade, with a view to progressive disarmament becoming world-wide. DISCUSSION WITH NEUTRALS. FURTHER SAFEGUARDS _ c „ ARRANGED. pcP-"" . ' ;> PROTECTION OP SMALL STATES. •’ (Australian and N.Z. Gable. Assn.) (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) - PARIS, March 29. v Mr. Fraser states that thirteen neutral delegates conferred with the League’s sub-comittee. They offered suggestions and many amendments to meet their views. The neutral delegates displayed a friendly interest in the proceedings without giving pledges, the impression derived being that many, if not all, will join the League. A provision was inserted clearly protecting sovereign powers and also making clear the decisions of the executive and delegates, except where otherwise provided. Care has been taken that small States shall have equal power with large in dealing with subjects affecting their interests. There is also an express reservation that the League must notinterfere in internal affairs in any country. The executive has been given power to enlarge its numbers provided the ration between large and small States is maintained, but only after the Delegates’ Council’s .. approval. *My authority,, says Mr Fraser,, states that a definite pledge was given that the covenant would be discussed at a plenary session and the will then press their claim for equality. He admitted that although the League provided for noninterference in the internal affairs of a country there tiave been occasions when an internal matter had developed into an international one. The League might be caled to settle such an affair. It is therefore somewhat difficult to clearly say what was purely an internal affair. Even the question of immigration might assume = international importance. A DIPLOMATIC EMPTY PHRASE. ON THE JAPANESE QUESTION. OPPOSED BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) ■■■•■ PARIS,"March 29. Referring to the, discussions of the Japanese claims Mr. Murdoch states that General Smuts pointed out his proposed amendment was very moderate, but Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey took the point that a diplomatic empty phrase should not be inserted in the covenant, and the question should not be definitely decided. Moreover, though the Japanese representatives assured the Dominions’ representatives that Japan did not intend to go further. The Dominions 1 delegates poin'ed out tfiirt some new i Government in Japan would be able, under the proposed amendment, to bring up al the racial questions at the League of Nations. THE JAPANESE AMENDMENT. MR. HUGHES STANDS FIRM. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, March 29. Japan’s action in leaving in abeyance the amendment to the League of Nation's is doubtless due to inability to secure British support. The Japanese left no stone unturned to secure a sympathetic interest in the proposal.. They believed that Mr. Wilson wou’d not be disinclined to accept recogn.tion. While the British delegation was sympathetically disposed there was a suggestion that the latter should, after hearing the Japanese views, consider the matter, hut Mr. Hughes demurred, preferring to tell them frankly to their faces that under no circumstances could he be a party to granting their demand at this conference.. The Japanese then decided to take another opportunity for pressing their claim, cither before [lie League Drafting Committee oi when the covenant comes before the plenary sitting of the Conference. QUESTION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. PURELY AN INTERNAL AFFAIR.' (Australian ar, d N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received. March 30, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 29. The New York Herald’s Paris correspondent interviewed Lord Robert Cecil, who expressed the opinion that questions of race discrimination should not he disposed of in the League of Nations covenant. Any attempt to decide these matters in the covenant would be considered a violation of the clause prohibiting interference with internal affairs by the members of the League. ■

BRITISH PREMIER'S MESSAGE REASON AND JUSTICE. TO REPLACE FORCE AND INTRIGUE. ANGLO-AMERICAN DUTY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received .March 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 29.

Mr Lloyd George in a message published in the “’Manchester Guardian,” states that the League of Nations represents the greatest attempt ever made to substitute reason and. justice for force and intrigue as the . governing principle of international relations. This principle being accepted, the nations ’ must beinspired with a real determination to work in for the betterment and liberty of mankind. Thp League must be made an effective injstrument . for the solution of every International problem. America and Britain, who had taken such a leading and honourable part in promoting this beneficent''.scheme, must give practical demonstration of their belief i,n it. Disarmament is an essential condition to success.