LEAGUE OF NATIONS CONSTITUTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS CONSTITUTION

I AGREEMENT ON MAIN PRINCIPLES POWER TO QUELL WARS ) . : AMERICA AND THE NEAR ! EAST PROBLEMS •- - « By Telegraph—Preee Association-Copyright Paris,.. February 6. . It is, officially announced.that the Powers have reached on. agreement; oii; the principles underlying tho entiro constitution of tho League of Nations.—Aus.-' N.Z. Cable Assn. . _ Paris, February--5. Tho commission on tho League of Nations has not issued communiques, but it has made great progress. The lengthy sittings were conducted in English, with a view to 'enabling President Wilson to carry an approved plan. to. America, yriiere lias been a of discussion outside the Connniwion as to' whether tho League'of Nations will supersede tho Monroe .doctrine cr strengthen it. Many - hypothetical questions have been raised in view of tho United States : taking mandatory powers over certain European territory, and "also as to whe- . tlier somo European JPpwer might not find it convenient to intervene in the i Western Hemisphere. For instance, if the South American nations became embroiled, would tli'o league have power to ■assign the task of quelling it. to a given group of nations, including, a European country; or would it defer to the United States?. Tho point has interest for Australia, inasmuch as she may be liable to be called upon to contribute her quota of soldiers, to any of the league's little wars, in which, the British Empire's interest may. not be in the least concerned. On the other hand, the value of .the league-in preventing wars may bo worth this contribution. Ah _ expression _ of American public opinion is reflected in a cablo message from New York, which shows, uneasiness'at the course .the league is taking. The newspapers, give prominence to Mr. Taft's demands for a league with teeth. He objects to mandatory, power over tho German colonies, and claims that they should be administered directly by the league. Mr. Taft ..thinkß that mandatory power is thinly veiled territorial acquisition. If Mr. Taft's idea is developed, it will not relieve President Wilson of his present e'mbarrassment over mixing America up-in the complicated Near Eastern problems over which it' is suggested she should exercise mandatory power. It. is these very ; doubts as to what powers are to be ulti-, mately vested fli tho increased league that makes Mr. Hughes insist on an explicit mandatory being granted .by the Peace Conference—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. limitationofTrmaments - IMPOSED ON ENEMY STATES FIRST. London, February 5. The Congress of the League of Nations' Societies has concluded its sittings, and has submitted further resolutions to the Powers.: It -urges that no olauso contrary to the principles of President Wilson's Fourteen Points should be included in the peace treaty; that tho league should recognise the importance of education; that there should be periodical international Labour Conferences of employers ' and workers for the purpose of keeping international regulations abreast of the times. ..The Congress also submits that the Peace Conference should impose on the enemy States, in the pence treaty, limitations of armaments, and control of their manufacture in such a way as to allow tho belonging to the League o£ Nations to reduce their military forces immediately; that tho league should limit the military and naval forces of its members to n degree compatible with preventing aggression by non-members ; .but that the Allied States should consider their defence sufficiently provided,fora considerable poriod, by tho arms and munitions which_ the war ajiil victory have, placed in their hands; and fliat the Allied States ought to forbid the salo of arms and'niunitions to countries not members of the league. The American delegates sympathised with the proposals, but declined to commit themselves on all the' points raised. They felt that the first step must bo in the direction of disarming the enemy States. Until this was accomplished, the Allies must maintain a strong force.— Ait6.-N.55. Cable Assn. ' SUPREME PURPOSE~OF THE LEAGUE NO THOUGHTFUL MAN COULD WITHHOLD SUPPORT. ' (Bee. February 7, 7.15 p.m.) , Paris, February 5.' Sir Robert Borden (Premier of Canada), in an interview, said:—"The British Empire in-itself'a commonwealth of freo nations which affords a certain analogy to the proposed League of Nations. The purpose of the league is so compelling and supreme that no'thoughtful man can withhold support from it."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • FINANCIAL SECTION OF THE LEAGUE. London,. February ,5. Sir E. •£!. Montagu has been appointed lo examine a project for the financial section of the League' of Nations,' drawn up by M. Klotz, tho French Minister of Finance—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - ENFORCING THE LEAGUE'S DECI-' 4 ' SIONS. , Paris, February' li. A general agreement having been reach-. Ed upon tho main principles of the Leaguo of Nations, the difficulty of on-" forcing the league's decisions is tho next subjcct for consideration.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GUARDIANSHIP OFJMALL COUNTRIES 5 (Rec. February 7, 8.40 p.m.) Paris, February 6. . The American Press Agency says' the impression is growing that the United States must assume the guardianship of the small countries if the League of Nations is to accomplish ail its purposes. The big Powers are showing a disposition to regard America as thei.only nation which can oxerciso a mandatory in certain territories without - engendering jealousies. President Wilson appreciates the fact that tho hardest task will be to convince the American people that tho United States must undertake such guardianship—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.