A.—s

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE SEVENTH ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, HELD AT GENEVA, IN THE YEAR 1926.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

SEVENTH ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. New Zealand Government Offices, Sir, — 415 Strand, London W.C. 2, 25th October, 1926. We have the honour to advise that on Monday, the 30th August, we arrived in Geneva in order to take part in the deliberations of the Conference of the representatives of the Powers which have adopted the protocol and statute establishing the Permanent Court of International Justice, convened to consider the proposal of the United States of America to adhere, with certain reservations, to that protocol and statute, and to attend, on behalf of New Zealand, the Seventh Assembly of the League of Nations. We were accompanied by our private secretaries, Mr. J. S. Hunter and Mr. C. A. Knowles, and two stenographers. The Conference convened to consider the proposed adhesion of the United States to the Permanent Court of International Justice began to sit on the morning of the Ist September at the International Labour Office. There were two sittings on that and on each of the two following days. The discussion, which was a very full one, gave the delegates an opportunity to express their views, and at the conclusion of the debate a committee was nominated to draw up a report for consideration later by the Conference. When the Assembly was due to open, the committee began to sit. The Conference was independent of the Assembly, to which its report was not submitted. Opening op Proceedings and Election op President. The Assembly was opened on Monday, the 6th September, by Dr. Benes, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Czecho-Slovakia, and Acting-President of the Council of the League, which was then in session. His speech in the original French and in an English translation will be found in.No. 2of the Journal. In accordance with the usual procedure, a small committee was appointed to examine the credentials ■of the delegates, and after its report had been made the Assembly elected its President. Its choice was Dr. Nintchitch, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Arrangements por the Conduct op Business. Under the well-established and convenient arrangement already in force for dealing with the items of the agenda, the delegates were asked to form themselves into six committees : — No. 1. To consider juridical questions. No. 2. To consider the work of the technical organizations of the League. No. 3. To consider questions of security and disarmament. No. 4., To consider the Budget and questions pertaining thereto. No. 5. To consider social questions. No. 6. To consider political questions, including mandates and slavery. Representation op New Zealand. The constitution of the Assembly provides that each country may be represented by three delegates, and, on the assumption that three delegates will be available, these committees meet on alternate days in groups of three. This year, New Zealand being represented by two delegates only, it was not possible for the Dominion to have on each committee a delegate with full powers. In the circumstances other arrangements had to be made. Sir Francis Bell decided to sit on Committees Nos. 1 and 4, and Sir James Parr on Committees Nos. 2, 3, and 5. For Committee No. 6 both' delegates nominated themselves —each to attend as convenience dictated. As, however, it would have been impossible under this arrangement to do full justice to the work, it was decided that Mr. Hunter should act as deputy on Committee No. 4, and Mr. Knowles in a similar capacity on Committees Nos. 2 and 5.

I—A. 5.