A.—s

4

A draft resolution having a similar object was also proposed by the Peruvian delegation. It reads as follows : — " The Assembly shall appoint a committee of five members to report on the form to be adopted for the inclusion of the Kellogg Pact in the Covenant of the League of Nations, and on the alterations necessary therein to give effect to the prohibition of war as an instrument of national policy." Both drafts were referred to the First Committee. M. Venizelos, the famous Greek statesman, contributed to the debate a speech full of interest. He acknowledged the beneficent influence which the League had had in his country. As an original signatory to the Covenant, he declared his faith in the League's progress. Dr. Stresemann, the German delegate, touched on a number of points. He thought that the whole of the Covenant, and not merely certain articles, should be reviewed with a view of seeing whether there were any terms which should be adapted or more suitably worded in the light of the Paris Peace Treaty. He put forward a suggestion that a special and permanent organization of the League should be created to deal with problems of minorities. He finally stressed the economic conditions in Europe resulting from the Treaty of Versailles. Many speakers alluded to the growing idea of an economic United States of Europe. There was the inevitable comparison of Europe, with its tariff walls and nationalist tendencies, with the United States of America, with its freedom of trade as between the various states. This matter was treated at some length by the Eight Hon. W. Graham, President of the British Board of Trade, who asked that the countries of Europe should agree not to increase tariffs for two years, during which time proposals for freer trade could be discussed. Mr. Graham also made a plea for the scientific study by the League of comparative statistics in industries and commerce, and he devoted a part of his speech to the problems of the coal industry, and suggested that they should continue to be made a special study of the League. On the following day the French delegation introduced two draft resolutions, one concerning coal and sugar, and the other proposing the convening of another International Economic Conference. The text of the drafts, which were both referred to the Second Committee, was as follows : — " Whereas the Council, at its meeting on 9th June, 1928, referred to the Economic Committee a recommendation of the Consultative Committee in favour of the resumption of the inquiries already commenced regarding the coal question : And whereas the Assembly, in its resolution of 21st September, 1928, expressed its confidence in the ability of the Economic Committee to obtain satisfactory results from the said inquiries : And whereas the Economic Committee, at its session of July, 1928, decided to collect all necessary information regarding the sugar question : And whereas it appears that, as a result of this dual inquiry carried out by the Economic Committee, working in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, and as a result of the meeting of experts fixed for 30th September, the League of Nations will have at its disposal all the material necessary for a solution of these two problems : The Assembly requests the Council to take steps to convene a meeting of representatives of the Governments concerned to consider the possibility of effecting an international agreement which would both safeguard the interests of producers, consumers, and workers, and at the same time make it possible to avoid the considerable fluctuations which at present occur in the price of coal and sugar, and would diminish the existing disparity between production and the requirements of consumers. " The Assembly, having taken note of the results obtained during the discussions of the Economic Consultative Committee— " Expresses its appreciation of the persevering efforts of that Committee and of the Economic Committee. " Considers that no effective action will be possible in the future unless the Governments are now requested to examine in their turn the questions left in suspense by the Consultative Committee and by the Economic Committee, availing themselves of the work accomplished by those committees to assist them in their decisions. " Accordingly requests the Council to take steps at such time as it thinks best to convene an International Economic Conference, which the Governments would be invited to attend, and for which the Council, in consultation with the Economic Committee, would draw up a limited and definite programme." The Italian delegate, M. Scialoja, who has an international reputation, made a brief but weighty speech devoted to disarmament and the part played by economics in international disputes. Touching the Secretariat, the Italian delegate said that privileged positions for certain States should not be created in the higher ranks of that body. The speech of Count Apponyi, the aged Hungarian statesman, reported in the Journal of the 11th September, is well worth reading. It contains the views on the present European position of one who has witnessed great political changes in Europe. The Australian representative pointed out that there were twenty-seven non-European States members of the League, and that among them were younger nations, engaged in the development of their countries, who had to meet the severity of competition and had, therefore, to utilize the powers of the State, through tariffs or other means, to protect their growing industries. He was, therefore, not enthusiastic about any general reduction of tariff walls.