GENEVA ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 46, 18 November 1920, Page 5

GENEVA ASSEMBLY

PUBLICITY OF COMMISSIONS' SITTINGS DEBATED COMPLETE REPORTS TO BE ISSUED Br Telegraph—Pre«« A««oolatlon—Oobjt1»M' London, November 16.. The Australian Press correspondent ail Geneva states uhat the French delegates to the League of Nations Assembly urged that the sitting of the various commissions. should be secret. Lord Eobert Cecil declared that the League could only live by the public opinion of the world. Therefore it should take the public into iis fullest confidence. Nothing would induco a better impression than tliat the League should make a definite move in the' direction of the fullest publicity and get! rid of underground negotiation. He moved an alteration In the proccduro rulo to enable each cornmifaiaii, as far as possiblo, to sit in* public. . ' Sir James Allen (New Zealand) supported Lord. Cecil, but 6aidha thought each commission should decidc how far i-,1 should admit the Press, if not the public. Mr. Fisher (Britain) favoured n. modification of the French suggestion, tliat a complete report should be issued, instead of admitting the public. Finally Lord Eobert Cecil accepted this revision of ilie French proposal, and it was Js!orway, Denmark, and Sweden have each sent women as reserve delegates, as eiperls on social questions. The Swedish and Norwegian ladies occupied seats at to-day's sitting. • The Assembly decided to .permit tho heads of tho delegations to nominate substitutes on the various commissions., Such substitutes may hold a seat in tho Assembly, but no substitutb may, occupy the chairmanship of a commission. Senator Jlillen objected to proposals by Signor Tittoni (Italy) and Mr. Fisher tliat the Assembly should elecil tho cliaijiien. and vice-presidents of the comniis--sions, and suggested that the commissions should elect their own chairmen. India desired that the vicc■presideutu should be noil-Europeans, in view of the fact that this was a world, league. The proposal, of Signor Tittoni and Jtr. Fisher was adopted. _ Baron iiliii (Japan) supported the Indian suggesjion, but both he and the Indian delegate decided, in view of .the sympathetic speech*® by European delegates, not. to. press tho matter further* at present.. ... i Senator Milieu hopes to 'participate on all tho commissions, particularly those dealing with finance, tho mandates, and rules of proccdnre. He fears that under tho provisional rules there is n tendency to sthmpodo ths Councils sion through plenary sittings.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. November 17, 8.5 p.m.)

London, November 17. Tho Assembly agreed tliafeas the commissions completed sections if their work a plcnnry session elionld meet immediately to deal with matters. It would also arrange the commissions' meetings as far. Os possible so that delegates would participate in each. The Assembly adjourned until to-mor-row, when the commissions will be ap-pointed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

WIRELESS REPORTS TO LONDON.

London, November 16. London is receiving expeditious wireless messages from Geneva through a newly-developed system, which was erected in a fortnight.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '