LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 59, 3 December 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

NOT A FANTASTIC DREAM

MANY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

SETTLED

STATEMENT BY MR, BALFOUR

By TeUarnsh-Preta Aisoolatlon-Oonrrlih'

(Rec. December 2, 9.10 p.m.)

Geneva, December 1. Mr.' Balfour, addressing international journalists, said that the work done by tho Leagifo during the past cloven months showed nothing to be ashamed of. He had heard rumours that the Press, was somowhat disposed to bo disappointed with the Assembly debates as inadequate to the cost of bringing forty-two nations together. Ho thought! that judgment was fair. Ho did nori suppose tho debates ever had the brilliancy of tho debates of the British, French, and other Parliaments. The main obstacle was' lining to express the speeches in two languages. Mr. Balfour continued that it asked too much of human nature to listen, apparently in interested silence, to spoeehes of which one could not understand a word. It for the public ever to adequately judge tho work of the various commissions. A body of men nover worked harder or more industriously with difficult problems than the members of the commissions. They had to deal with questions which were entirely new, for which thoro were no precedents to guide them. They had to.fill in the skeleton of the Covenant. Tho bulk of the work of the League was achieved by the Council. The latter must always be more important than the Assembly, for it -alone could net promptly when danger arose. Those who thought the League a.fantastic dream of a speculator must remember that many questions had arison.which would never have b'een settled without it. He instanced Danzig, tho International Court of Justice, and the mandates. "You could not work tho mandates without the League of Nations." It was wonderful to get a response from North America, Brazil, and Snain to help settle the tragedy in an obscure.corner of tho Black Sea. If anyone had suggosted such n thing five years ngo he would have been regarded as n dreamer, and it would have been '.a dream but for the League, tho Armenian-oucstion were'successfully settled, it would be a great, triumph for tho League.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MEMBERSHIP-OF LEAGUE ADMISSION 6f~ATOTRIA RECOMMENDED. • (Rec. December 2, 9.10 p.m.) Geneva, December 1. Tho commission on Lord Robert Cecil's motion decided iinanimousuly to" recommend the admission of Austria. The question of Bulgaria is still under discussion So'nator Milieu opposed the 'alter, arguing that a mere change of Government did not necessarily mean a change in spirit on the part of tho,Bul-garians—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. December 2..9.50 p.m.) Geneva, December 1. The commission recommends the admission of Costa Rica, but does not recommend the admission of Azerbaijan, the Ukraine, or Lichtenstcin. Tb« commission favourably, entertains the Swiss proposition in tho direction of establishing nnrtain relations between the League and States considered too small for full mem-bership—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. new economF doctrine PREVENTION OF MONOPOLIES IN RAAV MATERIALS. Geneva, December 1. The Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian delegates strongly oppose the suggestion of M. Ador (Switzerland) that if a permanent Economic Council 'is created it should study the prevention of monopolies in rriw materials. France and Italy supported M. Allor, urging that it was tho duty of tho League to foster a spirit of international co-operation, the. opponent held that the suggestion created a new economic doctrine, which would interfere with the free disposal by the various nations of their natural re-sources.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. mandateTprepared PRESENTATION PROCEDURE BEING > CONSIDERED. London, December 1. Mr. Bonar Law, speaking: in the House of Commons, stated that the mandates for the Tanganyika Territory, ex-German South-West Africa, ex-Gorman New Guinea, and Samoa have been prepared, on the basis of drafts of the B and "C" types! The mandates were prepared by an inter-Allied Commission, under the presidency of Lord Milner, last year, but certain questions still unsettled as to the procedure, in regard to the presentation of tho mandates to the League 'of Natons were being considered—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' CONTROL OF KOVNO ARMISTICE BETWEEN' LITHUANIA AND ZELIGOAYSKI. London, December 1. The League of Nations Commission in control of Kovno has arranged an arnnstico between Lithuania and Zebgowski (tho Polish commander) from November 30 -Each side will undertake to ceaso hostilities, and exchange prisoners, and to respect a neutral zone.—Router. (Rec. 2, 9 p.m.)

Geneva, December 1. The Council has received a telegram stating that the armistice at Vilna has been signed.-Aiis.-N.is. Cable Assn.