A.—s.

General to inform the Council of the discussion that had taken place in the Sixth Committee on the question of the procedure followed in regard to the protection of minorities. Even this proposal was amended, and it was ultimately passed in the following form : — " The Assembly requests the Secretary-General to inform the Council of the discussion that has taken place in the Sixth Committee on the problem of minorities as a whole." It will thus be seen that nothing of striking value was accomplished. Of even greater interest was that part of the discussion which centred on other motions. The first, introduced by the French delegation, that — " (1) The Assembly should reaffirm the recommendation adopted on 21st September, 1922, and proclaim that States which are not bound by any legal obligations to the League with respect to minorities must, nevertheless, observe in the treatment of their own racial, religious, or linguistic minorities at least as high a standard of justice and toleration as is required by any of the treaties and by the regular action of the Council: " (2) The Assembly considers there is no justification for any interpretation of the minorities treaties or of the foregoing recommendation which would exclude certain categories of citizens from the benefit of the provisions which in those treaties refer to all nationals ' without distinction of race, language or religion The second motion, emanating from the Polish delegation, that the Assembly should request the Council to appoint a Committee of inquiry to study the problem of the general application of the system of minorities protection, and submit to the next session of the Assembly a draft general convention on the protection of minorities involving the same obligations for all States members of the League. The third motion, by the delegate of Haiti, that the Assembly should express the hope that a World Convention ensuring the protection and respect of the rights of man and of citizens would be drawn up under the auspices of the League of Nations. You will see that these motions embraced minorities as a whole, and are not restricted to the minorities whose welfare is provided for in the various treaties. For information on the treatment which these proposals received at the hands of the subcommittee I would refer you to the Sixth Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 52), which concludes with the following draft resolution : — "1. The Assembly reiterating the recommendations which it passed on September 21, 1922, expresses the hope that the States which are not bound by legal obligations to the League with respect to minorities will nevertheless observe in the treatment of their own racial, religious, or linguistic minorities at least as high a standard of justice and toleration as is required by any of the treaties and by the regular action of the Council. " 2. The Assembly considers that the principles expounded in resolution 1, which reaffirms the recommendation of 1922, must be applied without exception to all classes of nationals of a State that differ from the majority of the population in race, language, or religion. " 3. The Assembly requests the Secretary-General to inform the Council of the discussion that has taken place in the Sixth Committee on the question of minorities as a whole." The Sixth Committee's report came before the Assembly on the 11th October, when the German delegate stated that, whilst accepting the first and third paragraphs, he would vote against the second. As to be effective the resolution required a vote, the President wisely decided to separate the controversial and non-controversial parts and to put each part separately to the vote. The first and third paragraphs of the motion were carried unanimously, the second was lost. Perhaps it is well to offer no further comment and to leave this Jewish question at the point to which the Second Committee has brought it. . . If I have dealt at some length with a matter which is, strictly speaking, of only academic interest to New Zealand, I do so because this annual debate in the Sixth Committee is a good illustration of the value of Geneva as a meeting-place for the nations of the world to discuss matters of common interest: further, the protection of minorities is a task imposed on the League by the Covenant, I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Thomas M. Wii.ford, High Commissioner for New Zealand. The Eight Honourable the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand.

Approximate Cost of Payer—Preparation not given; printing (400 copies), £10.

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington. —1934

Price 6d.]

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