THE LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16988, 10 November 1920, Page 9

THE LEAGUE.

GENEVA CONFERENCE,

(By Cab'.e—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and 2*. Z. Cable As-ociation.) (Received November 9th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 8.

The Dominions and British, delegates who are to attend the Genera Conference, had a further conference with the British Cabinet at the Foreign Office, Lord Curzon presiding. Mr Lloyd George. Mr Bonar Law, and Mr Balfour, were absent. The Dominions were fully represented, except Canada. A desultory discussion, lasting two hours, took place. It traversed tho Covenant, and probable procedure at Geneva. Many controversial points were raised, including mandates, fin ince, and German membership of the Lea-uo. but nothing was decided. It is understood tint France and Japan are principally concerncd with the mandates which propose to permit the enrolment and training of native troops for the defence of the mandatory territories. but prohibit their employment outside those territories. France protests that the restriction is unreasonable. and, should a crisis arise similar to that in the late war, it would be a menace to France's ex"%tence. Japan o' jfcts to the mandates permitting the imposition of racial restrictions on trade and immigration. Neither the French nor the Japanese attitude was discussed to-dny. Merrly passing references were made, the general opinion favouring waiting for the League's rocort:on of the precise terms of the mandates from the Allied Powers. .The delegates failed to elicit why the issue j of the mandates had ln?en delnyed.

The League is prenaring a h-udgct for £I.COO,OfH) to moot the forthcoming year's outlay. It is reported that Australia desires the revision of the finance scheme, establishing contributions on the basis of the Postal Union, under which the Commonwealth ranks ns a first-class Power, and therefore contributes equally with Great Britain, while Belgium and other small nations, ranking p.s second-class Powers, contribute considerably less. , The agenda includes the League's budgets to the end of December, also tho provisional estimates for 1921. BULGARIA SEEKS ADMISSION. (Received November 9th, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, November 8. The Geneva meeting of the League of Nations will consider Bulgaria's application for admission to the League. No other enemy Stato has applied for admission. AMERICA'S RENUNCIATION. (Received November 10th, 12.10 a.m.) j NEW YORK j November 8. It is stated that Mr Elihu Root opposed renouncing the League, and was at variance with, tho views expressed by Senator Harding during the campaign. Mr Root's position was stated in a cablegram from London to Senator Harding last August. Ho said any attempt to abandon the Versailles Treaty would bring chaos, the entire loss of tho results of the war, and general disaster, involving the United States. He suggested that the League should be accepted with the Lodge reservations and other changes. BRANCH FORMED IN SYDNEY. (By Cable—PrMS Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, November 9. A branch of tho League of Nationß Union has been established in Sydney with tho object of assisting to instal the League as the arbiter of world disputes, and to foster a mutual understanding and create a world organisation able to guarantee freedom, liberty, and peace. The new taxation foreshadowed includes increases in the stamp and probate duties, an increase in the amount of broken money collected from the total isator, increased harbour and tonnage rates for coastal ports, and increased Sydney Harbour rates.