15

A.—s

called to tho subject of Continental guarantees of territorial integrity, and to the connection which may exist between the principle of a universal guarantee contained in Article 10 and the proposal, of guarantees by special convention considered in relation to the problem of disarmament. A further suggestion to consider the Canadian proposal in conjunction with tho question of disarmament and mutual guarantee under consideration by the Third Committee was abandoned in favour of a motion of Sir Cecil Hurst that the consideration of Article 10 should, be adjourned until the Fourth Assembly in order that the subject might be considered in all its bearings. In its report the First Committee, accordingly recommended to the, Assembly the adoption of a resolution to postpone the consideration of the Canadian proposal for the amendment of Article 10 of the Covenant until tho next Assembly, and to leave the Council to decide the steps to be taken to provide a detailed study of this proposal in the meanwhile. Tho report (Document No. A. 1.07) was adopted by the, Assembly at its meeting on the 23rd September. Amendment of Article 18. —With* regard to Article, 18, the fundamental problem was how to distinguish which treaties were of a political character, and it was pointed out that as it stood the article was impossible of execution in tho absence of definite regulations for the registration of treaties. The committee finally adopted a resolution to the effect that in order to be able to profit by experience, gained over a longer period before the opening of the discussion the Assembly should decide to postpone the discussion to a future Assembly (Document No. A. 99), and this was confirmed by tho Assembly at its meeting on the 23rd September. Increase in Number of Non-permanent Members of Council. The motion that the non-permanent members of the Council should be increased from four to six emanated from tho Council itself, and it was referred to the First Committee for examination and report. The result, of its labours is embodied in Document No. A. 119, which was considered, by the Assembly on the 25th September, when a resolution providing for the increase was passed, but not unanimously, as the Netherlands Delegation voted against it. Selection of Non-permanent Members of the Council. —The Second Assembly passed, at its mooting on tho sth October, 1921, a resolution providing for the method for electing non-permanent members of the Council. This resolution gave expression to the opinion that it would be desirable to amend Article 4 of the Covenant, and, indeed, the following amendment was approved by the .Assembly on the samp day : " The Assembly shall fix by a two-thirds majority the rules dealing with the election of the non-permanent members of the Council, and particularly such regulations as relate to their term of office and the conditions of re-eligibility." This amendment has, however, not received a sufficient number of ratifications to become operative. As the election of non-permanent members was to take place this year, it became necessary to frame regulations governing the, election, and the First Committee, after careful consideration, presented a report (Document No. A. 147). In the course of tho debate on this report the Earl of Balfour proposed two slight amendments of form, which were accepted by the Assembly and which will bo found incorporated in the document. He, also proposed an additional resolution to the effect that it was of the highest importance that the amendments to the Covenant already passed should be ratified by the Governments members of the League, and that tho Council should be requested to take all possible measures with a view to this being done. It was pointed out, however, that a resolution in similar terms had already been passed by the First Committee on the preceding day. Lord Balfour withdrew his motion in favour of the First Committee's resolution (see Document No. A. 166), which was passed by tho Assembly. Tho Chinese delegate referred to a recommendation made by the First Assembly and adopted on the, Ilth December, 1920, to the effect that three of the non-permanent members of the Council, which were then fixed as four in number, should be selected from among the members of the League in Europe, and the two American Continents, and one from among the members of Asia and tho remaining parts of the world, and he endeavoured to got this recommendation reinstated, with the necessary modification consequent upon tho increase in the number of the non-permanent members of the Council, in the report then before the Assembly, but was not successful. The Assembly approved of the committee's report as finally drafted. On the following day the Assembly proceeded to elect the six non-permanent members of tho Council. It was necessary to vote only once. As forty-five States voted the requiied majority was twenty-three. The result was as follows :-■ 42 votes were recorded in favour of Brazil. 40 votes wore recorded in favour of Spain. 40 votes were recorded in favour of Uruguay. 36 votes were recorded in favour of Belgium. 35 votes were recorded in favour of Sweden. 27 votes were recorded in favour of China. Amendments to Articles 4 and 7 of the Rules of Procedure.- It is not necessary to do more than refer to the amendments, which will be found in Document A. 95 and which were confirmed by the Assembly at its meeting on the 29th September. Salvador. - Tho question raised by Salvador is a, legal one. She contends that not having signed the Treaty of Versailles she s not obliged to contribute towards the upkeep of tho International Labour Office created by that Treaty, and that Article 6 o: the Covenant compels a member of the League to provide only its share, of the " expenses of the Secretariat." a phrase capable of more than one interpretation. The First Committee thought otherwise, as will be seen from the conclusions of its report (Document No. A. 128), which were confirmed by the Assembly at its meeting on tho 29th September.