LEAGUE MEETS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18690, 13 May 1926, Page 11

LEAGUE MEETS.

BRITAIN OPPOSED TO VIOLENT

CHANGES

(BT CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COMBIGHT.) (RECTOR'S TELEGRAMS:)

GENEVA, May 11. Viscount Cecil, opened the proceedings of the Committee on the. Composition of the League Council. He declared that the British Government was opposed to any violent changes, in. the composition of the Council, and suggested a system of rotation for nonpermanent members of the Council. Signor Scialoja .(Italy) and Senor Palanfries (Spain) urged unanimity in the decisions of the Council, Signor Scialoja opposing too great an increase in the non-permanent members. He declared that the making of, the League into a super-State must be avoided, as this to-day would be an anachronism.

During the course of the general discussion, a communication from Australia was distributed embodying the views of the Commonwealth Government, 'which suggested that the Council should continue to consist of permanent members, but permanent seats should be restricted to the Great Powers, including Germany. The communication proposed that all'members of the League not permanently represented on the Council should have an opportunity of participating in its work. It expressed grave doubts as to whether any advantages would be gained by adopting geographical divisions in the election of non-permanent members, and it also opposed any modification of the rule of. unanimity in respect to the decisions of the Council.