A.—s.

Sir John Simon was supported by M. Barthou, the French delegate, whilst a speech was also delivered by the Italian delegate, Baron Pompeo Aloisi, who, however, suggested that a proposal of a general system came into the category of treaty revision. Notwithstanding the constitutional and legal difficulties in his path, the Polish representative declined to recede from his viewpoint. Elections to the Council. The election of three non-permanent members of the Council to replace China, Panama, and Spam, whose term was about to expire, took place on the 17th September Both China and Spam had made the requisite application to be considered eligible for continuation of office, and a motion providing for re-eligibility was put to the vote at the morning session. Whilst Spam obtained the necessary majority for re-eligibility, securing no less than forty-four votes, China failed. The actual election took place in the afternoon. Spain was re-elected, and Chile and Turkey were elected to replace The declaration as to re-eligibility in the case of Spam was never m doubt, many delegates holding the view that continuance of office was advisable because of the prominent part which Spam had taken in the Disarmament Conference. Conference fob the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments. At the meeting of the Assembly on the 27th September the President read a letter he had received from Mr. Litvinofl, the delegate of the U.S.S.R., regarding the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments. This letter, which is produced m Document A 59, contains the following " The Fifteenth Assembly of the League of Nations expresses the hope that the President of the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments will report to the League Council on the position of the work of that Conference and that the Council will express its views as to the procedure to be followed." The President suggested the position would be met by the Assembly taking note of the Mr Litvinofl asked leave to speak, and, the request having been granted, he made a statement the purport of which was that if it was thought that a formal motion was unnecessary he would not press the point, but would raise the matter at a meeting of the Council. The Assembly terminated on the evening of the 27th September. FIRST COMMITTEE. Credentials. In recent years some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the loose methods adopted for accrediting representatives to the Assembly. The point is covered by No. 5 of the Rules of Procedure, but often the strict letter of the rule has not been observed. Whilst it would be unjust to charge successive Credential Committees with laxity, the fact remains that so-called credentials have been accepted which, at an international conference convened by the Government of a State would never be considered. . , i The matter was referred to the First Committee, and its report (Document A 47) is attached. The report came before the Assembly on the 26th September, and was adopted. It will e lerTLt" provides for an .moment to Rule 5 For the flr.t tare the espre.ro. " full powers" is used. Generally speaking, credentials should be issued by the head of the State or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. If a country does not possess a Minister of Foreign Affairs, however, credentials should be issued by the Minister exercising powers similar to those of a Foreign Minister. SECOND COMMITTEE. Economic Committee. An account of the recent work of the Economic Committee which is a permanent organ of the League will be found in the report to the Secretary-General (Documents A 6 and A 6 (a)). in addition to this document the Second Committee had before it the report to the Council of the Economic Committee on the work of the 41st session (Document C 353, M. 165). 1 draw particular attention to this last document because it contains material on which stress was laid m the course of the debate. Tn the first nlace I would mention Appendix I, entitled "Tourist Traffic considered as an International Economic' Factor " not because of the manner in which the traffic affects certain European members of the league, but because it indicates the opportunities now afforded to New Zealand, with her fine climate, magnificent scenery, and sporting facilities, for developing a business which apart from the purely commercial aspect, is of special value internationally It is true that New Zealand being so far from Europe, could not attract the professional and similar classes who are able to take an annual holiday of only a few weeks' duration ; but there are many people m England and elsewhere who habitually spend a considerable part of the year in a foreign country. Three countries m Europe and parts of Africa so frequently visited by such people are still on the gold standard, and the cost of travelling and residence in these countries, compared with the cost four years ago, is very much greater. The point I wish to make is that the tourist traffic is not to be despised by any country. In Europe, apart from its money-value, it has international influences of a far-reaching character.

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