GENEVA CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16096, 20 September 1924, Page 5

GENEVA CONFERENCE.

HEALTH VOTE INCREASED. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PLANS. ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES. (Australian end N.Z. Cable Ass.n.) GENEVA, September 18. It transpires that the basis of the proposed Pact, which the sub-com-mittee is discussing, will be that all j the signatories shall undertake to re- j cognise the jurisdiction of a Court of j International Justice, and submit all disputes, the settlement of which is not provided for under Articles 12. 13, and 15 of the Covenant, to the Council of the League, which shall give its decision by a majority vote; but the proceduro in regard to arbitration has still to be settled, and possibly, in view of the objections raised by one delegation, a separate body instead of the Council of the League may be established as the Court of Arbitration.

The question of partial agreements, or so-called regional agreements, between various States, apparently led to eonsidcrabel discussion yesterday. Finally the French proposal was agreed to, namely, that so long as the Covenant is not universal, partial agreements should continue to'exist, though coming within the scope of a general Pact for mutual assistance, provided they are registered and published by the League.

The Budget Committee of the League, by 16 voles 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 for the motion. The Canadian delegate was absent. The proposal of Brazil and Portugal, however, to make an increase of 130,000 francs was adopted by 22 votes to 11. The present arrangements for 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 Strakosch (South Africa), that this appropriation must disappear in 1926.

ACTIVITIES OF COMMITTEES. ASSISTANCE FOR ARMENIANS. LONDON, Sept. 18. A Geneva correspondent states that the Fifth Committee is dealing with relief work among the Armenian women and children refugees in the Near East. Mrs Allan (Australia) supported a suggestion for the renewal of relief for at least another year. She said there were still 100,000 to be cared for and it would be deplorable to abandon the work, not only for the sake of the unfortunate sufferers, but also for the prestige of the League. Australian women felt so strongly when last year a discontinuance was suggested that they immediately opened a subscription.

M. Sarraut (France) thanked Mrs Allan, and urged an expression of appeciation of Australian women's erosity. The committee agreed to recommend a continuance of relief for another year. The committee on intellectual cooperation is considering a French proposal for~the creation of a new institute in Paris for 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 declared that if there were no intellectual co-operation there could be no League of Nations. In furtherance of this project the French Minister of Education visited Geneva during the week-end and was most actively engaged in propaganda.

When the committee was discussing the report of the commission on communications am;l transport Mr Charlton (Australia) brought up the need for abolishing passports, the discomforts arising from which did not tend to improve international relations. Sir Llewellyn Smith expressed sympathy .with Mr Charlton's complaint and the commission will consider the suggestion next year.