NATIONS’ LEAGUE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19816, 21 February 1936, Page 7

NATIONS’ LEAGUE

REVISION OF COVENANT. DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS. GOVERNMENT’S ACTION DEFENDED. (Omelal wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 19. Replying to the debate raised in the House of Lords on the constitution of the League of Nations, Lord Stanhope said that for many reasons the British Government was not contemplating or considering any steps lor the revision of Hie League Covenant, as a decision in such a matter should be unanimous among all the League members. Referring to the speech to) the Marquess of Lothian, who claimed that the Covenant would work very well if the nations made up lli-eir minds to apply ils principles, and suggested that they were holding back from co-operation because they felt that their economic security was threatened, Lord Stanhope said the Government was giving constant thought to questions such as economic nationalism and access to raw materials, but it was impossible to deal satisfactorily with these questions till the international situation improved. WEAKNESSES DESCRIBED. SEPARATE COUNCILS PROPOSED. DRASTIC REVISION NEEDED. LONDON, February 19. During the discussion in Ihe House of Lords on the proposed reorganisation of the League of Nations, Lord Rennell described as weaknesses of the League: (1) The admission with equal voices of nations with different social evolution and ethical standards; (2) the disparity of the distribution of Hie nations, which tended lo give the League a predominantly European character; (3) the unrestricted liberty to enter into alliances which might not only be pacts of non-aggression, but directly designed to isolate and intimidate other nations. • He suggested that instead of one council meeting at Geneva there should be Councils for Europe, Asia, America, and possibly also for Africa, with a World Court to pronounce on issues for which regional Councils were unable to find a solution. Lord Ponsonby thought this would complicate matters, but agreed that there must be a drastic revision. Lord Stanhope, in reference to Lord Rennell’s suggestion, said a great deal of the Lealgue’s work was not political. It would be unfortunate if those matters were dealt with by continents instead of by a world organisation.