LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ARGENTINA THREATENS TO BREAK AWAY THE DEMAND FOR COVENANT AMENDMENT ADMISSION OF SMALL 1 * STATES DESIRED #y TolesraDl—Press AeaoolaUon—OodstlbM Geneva, December 5. Lato on Saturday afternoon Senor Puoyrredon, head of the Argentine deleRation, ear 31. Hymans, and stated that under directions fcora his Government he would quit, the Lcaguo unless lour i amendments proposed by Argentina in the Covenant were adopted, the chief of theso being the admission of all 60vc-' reipn States, and that smaller 1 States should have. representation without a vote. Senor Pue.yrredon, in an interview, states that none of the Argentine amendments conflicted with the Treaty of Versailles. He simply looked upon Ac League as one for all humanity. I M. Hymnns, interviewed, sain he coul'd not make any declaration until the Assembly had been informed. Ho understood that the delegation from Paraguay, which supported Argentina, was awaiting Instructions from its Government. While thero was no suggestion of the intention of others to leave the League, it was well-known that Scandinavia, Porilugal, mid Chito were ;in strong sympathy with Argentina's desire for the amendments to tile Covenant.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ULTERIOR MOTIVE SUSPECTED . UNITED STATES AND GERMAN INFLUENCE SUGGESTED. Geneva, December 5. Argentina's breakaway from the Assembly need not be immediately accepted too seriously. The nmiu danger lies in Mho croatkm of an American "bloc," by which North and South America, may engineer to create a separate entity as opposed to the League. Practically no criticism is yet available from the delegations of tho 'Greatl Powers. Many rumours aro in circulation, but they, arc mostly speculative. There is a section which believes, that- "anti-Leaguers" jn the United 1 States intrigued for the. affair, ' whilo somo suspect that German influence in Argentina,may have taken a hand in orderto embarrass the Assembly. From tho outset of'the Geneva, mcel'jng, South America has employed the big American news agencies, to give their Press almost verbatim reports of the proceedings. This is of absorbing interest in Latin-America, and has aroused somo comment'. Pending some, satisfactory explanation from Argentina, the general opinion 'is that somo. ulterior motive lies behind such drastic action in desiring a hasty amendment of the Covenant. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable A66n. TWO YEARS' NOTICE REQUIRED. Geneva, December 5. Fmi-offieial. —Senor . Pueyrredon's renunciation of collaboration in tlie work of the Assembly does not constitute tha two years' .notice demanded of nations which wish to le.ivo tha League. Newspapers declare that everybody approves the attitude of the Assembly. It is considered improbable that any other South American Republic will withdraw. _ 51. BraJiting. Sweden's Socialist Leader, was foremost in censuring Argentina, and described the action as a move against the interest's of democracy. -Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ADMISSION OF ARMENIA OPPOSED BY LEADING POWERS. Geneva, December 4. The report that Mr. Lloyd George, M. Leytrues, and' Signor Stores, .oppose tho admission of Armenia to the League has caused surprise in tho Assembly, in view of tho fact that .a sub-committee recommends the admission. Lord Robert Cecil and M...Viviam approve tho committee's decision. M. Yiviani, in a subj sequent, interview, said lie was in accord with the London decision. Lord Robert Cecil dteclint-d i>> say anything nt present. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROBABLE REVISION OP TURKISH TREATY. London, December 4. The decision to oppose Armenia's admission to tho League was due to tho probable revision of the Turkish Treaty, owing to the change in Grecian affairs.—. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , A BOLSHEVIK CLAIM. 'London, December 5. A Moscow message claffiis that Armenia has becomo a Soviet IJ-epublic.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD ARMENIA. Copenhagen, December 5. Sweden, Norway, and , Denmark regret their inability to send an expedition to Armenia,' They emphasise the distance of tho country lindi the complexity of the Armenian quostion. Madrid, America, Brazil, and Spain are concerting measures to safeguard Ar* menia as the result of the Geneva deci-sions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE BUDGET APPROVED REDUCTION MOTION BY SIR JAMEb DEFEATED. ' Geneva, Decomber 5. The Fourth Commission further considered the budgets of the League and the International Labour Organisation. The Commission rejected India's plea that, tho Secretariat's expenses _ were too high and should bo reduced. Sir James Allen moved a mo'.Eon to Tcduce tho Labour otganisation's budget of 20,950,000 franca by half a million francs, declaring that the figures of amounts spent on officials a.nd also on publications were altogether too high. Tho motion was rejected by at votes to 2. and nlie budget was ap-proved.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. DISARMAMENT ANDJHE U.S. NAVY New York, December L In a speech at Newport News, Senator Harding expressed -the hope that tho world would soon Teach'approximate disarmament; but ho added: "Until that tfme, I want an American Navv equal to the greatness of ilhis nhtion. — Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ,