43

A.—6

League and make it more and more the corner-stone of our policy, for unless we: can get rid of the war machinery, the idea of force and compulsion, I do not myself think there is any hope that we shall see a pacified and restored Europe. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA. Appreciation of Lord Robert Cecil's Statement. Mr. Mackenzie King : I do not know that I have much to add by way of comment, except to express appreciation for the information we have received, particularly in relation to the Italian-Greek crisis, and the fact that Lord Robert Cecil went so carefully and fully into the different aspects of the work of the League in which we are all so interested. Effect of Italian Action on Public Opinion in Canada. In speaking of the Italian-Greek crisis and tiro relations of the: League thereto, we cannot from a distance but feel that, the extent to which public opinion was focussed on the dispute was increased a thousandfold by virtue of the fact that the League's authority to a certain extent had apparently been ignored. It gave to every country, certainly to Canada, in her interest in the dispute, a feeling of immediate: concern, which I think she otherwise would never have had. I believe that much the same feeling was aroused in America, though she is not a member of the League. I think there was a feeling that, after all, nations had endeavoured to set up some machinery to take the place of force, which machinery should bo respected. I believe: that the fact that the League was meeting at the time certainly went far in arousing world opinion, and would have led to a much more, vigorous action from the outside world if necessity had occasioned it. Certainly nothing could better express the views that were hold in Canada generally with reference to the support which should be given to the League than the, concluding remarks of Lord Robert Cecil. In every particular they would be endorsed with enthusiasm from one end of our country to the other. Good Effects of Lord Robert Cecil's Visit to Canada and the United States. May I take advantage of this occasion to express the pride and pleasure which we all felt in the visit of Lord Robert Cecil to America and the addresses given there . I believe they were: distinctly helpful in interpreting the work of the League in a sympathetic manner to the people of the North American continent. I believe the speeches did much good. Ido think that Lord Robert Cecil's visit was in every particular helpful to the League and to the British Empire. I should like to mention that my colleague, Sir Lomcr Gouin, was one of erur representatives at, the League, and possibly the Conference woulel like him to say a word or two, if he so desires. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE, CANADA. Sir Lomcr Gouin : I was at Geneva representing my country at the last meeting of the League of Nations. I followed the deliberations of the Assembly and the deliberations of the Council. I must say that I felt proud of the role played by Lord Robert Cecil both before the Assembly and before the Council. Canadian Amendment to Article 10 of the Covenant. 1 must take this opportunity to thank Lord Robert Cecil for the great help he gave: Canada in connection with the proposition that we laid before the Assembly with regard to Article 10 of the Covenant. As you remember, in 1919, at the time that the Peace Conference was preparing the Covenant, the representative of Canada, my predecessor, the Right Hon. Mr. Doherty, opposed Article 10, anel, after the Covenant was signed anel brought to our Canadian Parliament for ratification he maintained his opposition to that Article. But, believing in the, Covenant and wishing to be a party to the League of Nations, he asked our Parliament to ratify the Covenant, which was done:. In 1920, at the very first meeting of the Assembly of the League, he came before, the delegates and asked for the repeal erf Article 10. This was referred to a Commission appointed by the Council, and the report of that Commission was to the effect that, instead of repealing Article 10, an interpretative: clause should be adopted by the Assembly. That report was discussed at two Assemblies, and irr .1922 our representative, the Hon. Mr. Lapointe, finding that he could not obtain the repeal of Article 10, brought up another amendment in advance of the proposition of the interpretative clause. This year I brought up the same amendment, and, with the help of Lord Robert Cecil and the representatives of the other Great Powers, we succeeded in having the, Commission, which , had been entrusted with the examination erf erur proposal, submit an interpretative declaration to the Assembly, which voted for it by a large majority, one State: only voting against it. It is true that the, clause was not adopted, as unanimity was necessary under the rules, but— Lord Robert Cecil: It was only Persia who was against it. Sir Lomer Gouin: Yes, and that is why I say that in effect we, have obtained the interpretative declaration which we were seeking. And for this I wish to renew my thanks to Lord Robert Cecil for the assistance that he has given us. That is all 1 have ter say. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. Interest of Australia in League. Mr. Bruce: Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of Australia, I feel I must say something in regard to this question, because I do not think there is anything at this time they are more interested