LEAGUE OF NATIONS' ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS' ASSEMBLY

GERMAN PROTEST FILED IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING IMPRESSES AMERICANS , FUTILITY OF COUNTER- [ LEAGUE By Teleenmh-PreßX AsuocUtlon-OoprrlelU (Rec. November 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 20. The Australian Press Association cori respondent at Geneva slates that it is reported that Germany has filed a lengthy protest with the Assembly claiming that tho Allies have not lived up to the clauses of the Treaty providing that the colonies and mandates should be distributed and governed by the League. Furthermore, she clniiua'chnt she signed the Covenant with tho expectation that she would bo admitted to tho League, -and have a part in the distribution of the mandates. Therefore she does not recognise that she is any longer bound by that portion of the Treaty under which she surrendered the colonies.

A number of overseas delegates, accustomed to their -own Parliamentary procedure, and new to European find themselves nonplussed at times by the Assembly's procedure. In the drafting or tho provisional rules they were made expressly elastic to meet ns far as possiblo the diverse methods of tho different nationalities. Bilingualism, with its attendant slowing down of business, adds to the newcomers' perplexities, the fact is tho Assembly partakes more of the nature of a conference than of n l»r----liament, nnd until the commission completes the drafting of set procedure its cmorgence from the Congress condition into proper Parliamentary system cannot be expected. Already, after two days' experience, fiie Commissions are beginning to prove umvieldly. With a laudable desire to permit every nation to have representation, theso commissions have resulted m some having thirty members, lengthening out the deliberation. Overlapping has also occurred to such an extent that tho Assembly has decided that next week three commissions shall sit on three (lays, and the remainder meet onalternative day*. Tho sixth commission has done practically nothing, beyond a general discussion on armaments, M. Viviani pointing out that the commission docs not»possess sufficiently definite data on which, to proceed. 'The colonial representatives get somewhat restivo at tho slowness of progress, but thb Assembly is such a new experiment that patience is_ required to oaable it to get'into its stride. ' American circles in Geneva tire impressed by the importance of tho Assembly. Some leading publicists declare that the idea of tho United States starting a counter-league is futile in tho presence of the forty nations assembled in Geneva. It would bo wiser for the United States to join the League and assist in moulding its constitution—Aus.-N.Z. Labia Assn.

ADMISSIONS TO LEAGUE

POSITION OF FORMER ENEMIES, Geneva, November 19,

The majn interest of the Commissions of tie League of Nations centres round that dealing with admissions to the League, with its bearing on former enemy States. An echo of the discussion in the Australian House of Representatives has reached Geneva. As a matter of fact, cno question of Germany's admission does not arise, because Germany has not applied to join;.but the question may crop up indirectly. Whatever may Iw decided with regard to tho admission or Austria and Bulgaria, it can scarcely be taken as a precedent. Inquiries indicate that there is apparently little feeling against admitting the minor belligerents, but the opinion with regard to Germany is more reserved. The Bpeech of Dr. Puoyrredon (Argentina) and Lord Robert Cecil's appeal for conciliation aroused speculation over Germany's position. The French 6*el«gation apprehended a more definite expression from Lord Cecil, and therefore M. Viviani was prepared to outline the French point of vtftw, 'but the matter! passed. A rough analysis of tho opinions of the various delegations suggests that M. Viviani may have a substantial majority against any proposal for the early admission of German^—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUPPORT FOR FRANCE'S POINT OF VILW. , (Rec. November 31, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, Nocember 20. The "Matin's" Geneva correspondent says (hat in tho event of a vote it is probable that only Norway, Holland, and Argentina will support Germany's admission to flip League. Over thirty natrons support France's point of view.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

DEBATE ON COUNCIL'S REPORT INDUSTRIAL INSTA-'WUTY OF EUROPE. Geneva, November 19. Mr. Barnes resumed the debate of tho Council's report. lie said he believed he voiced the opinion, of the worSlng classes of Britain when he declared that ex-enemy countries should be admitted as eoon as possible. He believed this was tho opinion not only of tho British workers, but of fTTe workers of the world. The industrial instability of Europe was largely duo to its being divided inlo two camps. He assumed that the enemy would do their duty under the Peace Treaty, but that was the affair of the Allied Powers, not the League. Tho duly of the league was to secure such eo-oneration as would ensure the peace of tlio world. Mr. Barnes's speech did not arouso any comment from tho speakers who continued the debate—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Rec. November "21, 5.5 p.m.) Geneva, November 20. Mr. N. W. Ron-ell (Canada) resumed tho donate on the Council's report. Ho said the success of the League depended on the personnel of the Council and ihe Assembly. Unless the nations sent the best men the result would be unsatisfactory. The League must justify itself-by its achievements. Ho asked'whether the Council was composed of a kind of elder statesmen, or If it represented certain Powers named in the Covenant. Ho believed that it occupied the totter position, and that it submitted the policy of thesa to other nations not represented on the Council. "Unless the Council gives a leadership," he declared, "it must fail. If a representative on it cannot speak absolutely for his country, ho has no right there. The Council should lie prepared to back up its decisions in such disputes as that between Poland and Lithuania by invoking its economic powers." Ho recognised the difficulties arising out of the centuries of conflict and racial animosities. Canadians had shed their blood to destroy militarism'. The League was a most hopeful experiment, devised by man to save tho world. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.