A.—s

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE THIRTEENTH ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, HELD AT GENEVA, IN THE YEAR 1932.

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

THIRTEENTH ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. New Zealand Government Offices, 415 Strand, London W.C. 2, 21st November, 1932. Sir, — I have the honour to inform yon that the Thirteenth Assembly of the League of Nations was opened in Geneva on Monday, 26th September, by Mr. E. de Valera (principal Delegate of the Irish Free State) in virtue of his occupancy of the Presidential Chair of the Council, then in session. Opening of Proceedings. The first meeting was devoted to the appointment of a committee to examine the credentials of the delegates (which committee reported in the course of the meeting), the election of a President, the examination and adoption of the agenda (Document A. 2 (1) ), and the appointment of an Agenda Committee to examine new items proposed for inclusion in the agenda during the course of the Assembly. The Assembly elected His Excellency M. Nicolas Politis, head of the Greek Delegation, as President. M. Politis has been closely associated with the League practically throughout its history, and his knowledge of League procedure and ripe experience in League affairs peculiarly fitted him to hold such high office. The proceedings followed the normal course. The following five committees were constituted, and I append the name of the Chairman of each : — First Committee : Legal Questions. Chairman : M. Beelaert.s van Blokland (Netherlands). Second Committee : Technical Organizations of the League. Chairman : Mr. C. te Water (South Africa). Fourth Committee : Organization of the Secretariat and Budget of the League. Chairman : Dr. A. de Yasconcellos (Portugal). Fifth Committee : Social and Humanitarian Questions. Chairman : Count Carton de Wiart (Belgium). Sixth Committee : Political Questions. Chairman : Dr. C. L. Lange (Norway). Committee No. 3 was not constituted. The Disarmament Conference' had been adjourned, although the Bureau of that Conference was then in session, and it seemed unnecessary that yet another body of the League should discuss questions affecting disarmament. The Assembly also elected the following Vice-Presidents : —• (1) Baron Aloisi (Italy) .. .. . . . . .. 44 votes. (2) Sir John Simon (United Kingdom) . . . . . . .. 42 „ • (3) M. Herriot (France) .. .. . . . . . . .. 42 ~ (4) M. von Neurath (Germany) . . . . . . . . .. 42 ~ (5) M. Medina (Nicaragua).. .. .. . . . . . . 38 ~ (6) M. Nagaoka (Japan) .. . . .. . . . . .. 34 ~ The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Chairmen of Committees, and the Chairman of the Agenda Committee constitute the Board which directs the labours of the Assembly, and is known as the Bureau. This year there were two additions to that body, M. Motta, President of the Swiss Federation and principal delegate of Switzerland, and Mr. Paul Hymans, principal delegate of Belgium, they having been elected honorary members of the Bureau. I—A.1 —A. 5.