THE GENEVA CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14539, 10 December 1920, Page 5

THE GENEVA CONFERENCE

AN OVERSEAS BLOCKADE MEETB WITH SOME SUCCESS. REDUCED EXPENDITURE URGED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received December 9. 5.5 p.m. GENEVA, December 8. The blockade of the adoption of the technical organisation report was in some respects a victory for the overseas delegates and the smaller nations, who view with increasing alarm the tendency to establish all sorts of bureaux with expensive staffs. The overseas delegates tried £aret to get the various commissions to secure a reduction in expenditure. Both Sir James Allen (New Zealand) and Mr Millen (Australia), endeavoured to secure some reduction in the high salaries of the secretariat, but were always met with the contention that in some way or other the Assembly had been committed. The technical report did not contain any reference to the cost, which is due to the commission only discussing the financial obligations this afternoon, when the Indian delegates' "motion on the subject will be considered. ALLOCATION OF SEATS. REPORT ON TECHNICAL BUDGETS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received December 9, 8.10 p.m. GENEVA, December 8. It is inconceivable that the report on the technical organisations of the League should be presented in view of the Indian motion, thus creating the inference that if the Assembly adopted the report the financial critics would tfiis afternoon have been faced with an accomplished fact. There is a consensus of opinion that Mr Rowell's taunt against European statesmen was not generous, but is excused on the ground that it evolved during a moment of heat. His rasn against extrava Kfiice met with warm reception. The Canadian frit that it would bo impossible for the overseas Dominions to send the best representative men to those multifarious organisations, therefore it meant confiding their Interests largely to European hands. The debate will have the effect of rousing the Assembly to a closer investigation of the League's expenditure.

On a motion by China the First Commission has recommended the allocation of three non-permanent seats on the Council to European and American countries, and the remaining seat to Asia and the other countries of the world. Following upon to-day's debate., the Second Commission adopted a scheme relative to the budgets of the different technical organisations.