THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 112, 5 February 1919, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

OR ENTENTE CORDIALE? FRENCH PAPER DISTRUSTS LLOYD • GEORGE'S JUDGMENT ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE DESIRED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, February 2. The "Echo de Paris," in a noteworthy leader expressing distrust of Mr. Lloyd George's judgment, and particularly of the possibility of substituting the League of Nations for the Entente Cordiale, says it would be much better for Britain and France to form a groat alliance than to trust thpir security to a chimerical international state.

The "Echo de Paris" recalls that Mr. Lloyd George in January, 1914, declared that war was improbable, and recommended naval disarmament, and asks: "Will lie return to the old outlook now the-crisis is past?"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. • ; SCOPE AND DUTIES OF THE LEAGUE MB. ASQUITH'S VIEW. London, February 2. Mr. Asquith, speaking at the World Brotherhood's Demonstration'in the Albert Hall, said that the League of Nations must be world-wide,' and it. must prohibit conscription, and insist on scaling down armaments. Ho advocated the nationalisation and interoationalisation of the control and transport of munitions. This war showed that war was not only a crime but an anachronism. Ho was of the opinion that a planet on which, human life was physically impossible was preferable to one on which'life had degenerated to a form of organised suicide. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ADMISSION OF DOMINIONS' AS NATIONAL ENTITIES. ' ; Paris, February S. The dominions and the Imperial Government have agreed upon a basis for the admission of the dominions as national entities in the League of Nations.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. PAYMENT OF WAR DEBTS A COMMON FUND PROPOSED. Paris, February 3. Signor Crespi, an Italian delegate to to the Peace Conference, has proposed the formation of a single financial "front" for the payment of t war debts. A universal tax drawji -from 1 tho indemnities of the Allies and neutrals, and taxes upon Germany will be placed in a common fund, the tax to furnish the interest on tho portion of tho debt which Germany is unable to pay immediately, and also to provide a sinking fund.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RESPONSIBILTTYFOR THE WAR ME, LANSING CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE. Paris,' February 3. Mr. Robert Lansing, United States Secretary of State, has been elected chairman of the committee to investigate the question of responsibility for causing the war.—Aus.-NcZ. Cable Assn. Paris; February 3. The full committee of the League of Nations' will meet to-day. . It is expected first to decide to. abolish submarine warfare. The Conference is expocted'to deal .with the German crimes this wfiek. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '

BREACHES OF THE LAWS OF WAR

ME. MASSEY TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMISSION. (Eec. February i, 8.10 p.m.) London, February 3. Mr. Massey, has been nominated .to participate in the inter-Allied Commission on Breaches of the Laws of War—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. NO PARLEYINiITH GERMAN DELEGATES REPARATION ONLY SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION. i Pai'is, February 2. Mr. A. J. Fraser states that French opinion indicates that the German delegates will not come to the Conference till April. There will be no-parleying with them over the lost territories; probably the only subject to be discussed will be reparation and the method of payment. It will be made clear to them that Germany will not be allowed to pay the in.terest on loans raised in Germany for the war until the tost of reparation is paid. It is considered, however, that something must be done to enable. Germany to secure raw materials to keep her industries going and prevent bankruptcy.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

Paris, February 2. ■ It is expected that, when the Allies have decided the peace terms they will not allow Germany unlimited latitude in discussion. The precedent of the Vienna Congress will be followed, where Talleyrand wae summoned and was informed of the joint decision of the Powers.—Aus.N.Z. Cable 'Assn., ', ALLIED TROOPS~IN KUSSIA IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL PROPOSED. / New York, February l< The United Press Agency in Paris reports that it is authoritatively stated that the United States and Britain have submitted to France a proposal for the imm<Jdiate withdrawal of all troops in Russia. The proposal is due to information obtained by American agents that Lenin and Tchitchprin accept the plan of the meeting on Princes Island. It is understood that Britain plans to withdraw her troops from Russia by March, before Archangel becomes • icelocked. Trotsky appears to oppose the Princes Island conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

PRINCES ISLAND CONFERENCE ONLY ONE AFFIRMATIVE REPLY. Paris; February 3. 11, Pichon, in an interview, said that the replies received 1 from various 'Governments in Eussia regarding the Princes Island conference included only one in the affirmative, from the head of the Crimean Government, who was 'formerly a member of tho Duma. Representatives of .the various Russian 'groups now in Paris had declined, but no answers had been received from their Governments. Admiral Kolchak was undecided. M. Pichon, replying to the rumour of the likelihood of a withdrawal of troops from Russia, said the matter had not been considered.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LABOUR LEGISLATION COMMISSION MR. GOMPERS ELECTED CHAIRMAN. (Reo. February 4, 7.30 p.m.) London, February 1. A Paris communitiue states that tho International Labour Legislation Commission elected Mr. Samuel Gompers chairman.—Reuter. * PRESIDENT WILSON'S RETURN HOME. (Reo. February i, 11.25 p.m.) New York, February 2. It is reported' that President \Vilson will probably sail from Europo for the United States on February 13, and will be publicly received at Brussels before leaving.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

JAPANESE DEMAND ABOLISHMENT OF RACE DISCRIMINATION. Tokio, February 2. .Japanese statesmen have decided to call a mass meeting to demand that the League of Nations shall abolish all race discrimination.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.