LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 71, 17 December 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ADMISSION OP NEW STATES

GERMANY'S FITNESS FOR MEMBERSHIP EFFECTIVE GUARANTEES ESSENTIAL i By Telosrach-Proßj Aejociation-Oopyrlfrht . (Rec. Decombcr IC, 11.15 p.m.) Geneva, Decembor 16. During a general debate in tho Assembly on the report on tho admission of new States, Mr. R. A. Blankonburg said that South Africa wouuld welcome the earliest admission of nil States, including Germany. M. Motta (Switzerland), 6peaking.for the admission of Austria, strongly appealed for the admission of Germany, Russia, and America. The League, he said, nvust ho universal, otherwise it would l contain a slow but euro germ of disintegration. M. Viviani rigorously replied. Ho said tho League was tho guardian of right against force. He regretted America's abstention, and said that when Russia oaino down to the ideas of a great democracy she might gain admission. With respect to Germany, it was her duty to show that she was fit to como in. She > must have ei. free Government, able to • give guarantees that she will discharge • her financial obligations. Germany might ' enter tho League when she had given i that effective guarantee. "Tho Leagne - Covenant wns meant to give effect to the ) Peace Treaty, but two years have passed f and Germany has not vet given effective i guarantees. We did not provoke the war. - If there is anything with which we could i be reproached it is that wo did not foro- - fee it. If the free nations had not stood ■ together for tho world's freedom, this 5 League would not bo sitting at Geneva : to-day." s Lord Robert Cecil moved the ndtnis- ' sion of Austria, which was agreed to. I Senator Milieu alone declined to vote 3 either way.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPORT ON OPIUM - AND WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC INDIA AND _ THE LABOUR ORGANISATION Geneva, December 15. • The Assembly of the League of Nntiona received the report of the committee on the opium trade, the Whito Slave traffic, and India's claim to representation on the Labour organisation as a great indusI trial country. Tho committee recommended acquiescence in tho desiTe of tho Netherlands that the League should resume the duties hitherto carried out by , her under the Opium Convention; also, - that the signatories to tho Convention t and ndn-inembers of tho Leaguo should - bo invited to appoint assessors on the a Advisory Committee of tho League, with t ft special invitation to America. The f committee' unanimously recommended . .that the League should undertake oblign--1 tions in respect to tho'White Slave trafi- fie, but decided that the Assembly was not competent to decido upon India s claim. The Council alone was competent to decide as to which ore the principal industrial Powers. The recommendations regarding 'the opium trade and the Whito Slave traffic wore adopted. The Assembly authorised a the secretariat to send c questionaire to 8 all Governments, asking what legislative 0 measures were taken to combat these traffics. An interesting feature in tho debate was a speech in English by Miss Forchhamnier, a Danish delegate, who was the first woman to address the Assembly. Miss Forchhammer appealed to every Government to legislate for the sup- „ predion of a traffic which was a blot on 1 civilisation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. December 16, 5:5. p.m.) -j Geneva, December 15. The Indian delegates stated their case, but offered no amendment. Tho commit- • tee's report was adopted without alteration. Mr. G. Barnes pointed out that thoy did not accept the invitation to . attend tho Labour conference at Wash- ;■ iugton last year.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. I NON-PERMANENTMEJERS OF COUNCIL " RESULT OF THE ELECTION. . is (Rec. December 16, 5.5 p.m.) ': Geneva, December 15. ?. The election of four non-permanent ,„ members of the Council resulted ir.i tho f. election of Spain, with 35 votes, Brail with 33 votes, Belgium with 24, and China ■1 21. In tho third ballot China beat it Belgium by one vote, but did not securo 8 a majority in the Assembly. A. further t vote as lietween China and Belgium re- " suited in tho lattcr's victory, but China secured a majority in the fourth- ballot over Rumania and several minor nations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ATTITUDE OF ARGENTINA

"NEVER BEEN A MEMBER OF LEAGUE."

Buenos Aires, December 11. The Foreign Office declares that the Argentine Government will not give any notification of withdrawal from tho League of Nations, because it is no*, considered that Argentina has ever been a member of the League. The Foreign Office pointed out that a series of diplomatic documents recently published showed that Argentina had accepted, the formation of the Leaguo in principle. \rgentiua sent delegates for the pnrpose of- assisting in the organisation of tho Lca»ue, but adhesion was conditional. Tho question of ratification and Argentina's participation in tho League would have be»n submitted to Congress had the Leaguo been formed in a manner acceptable to' Argentina. The withdrawal of the delegates ends the matter so far as the present League is concerned.—Ans.N. 7,. Cable-Assn.

MIIIEN'S FIGHT FOR ECONOMY

GKEAT SAVINO JN, EXPENDrTDHE

EFFECTED,

London, Decomber 15. , Mr. Percy Hunter, Australian Federal Immigration Officer says that Senator Millen's remarkable fight in. the Leairuo of Nations in the cause of economy is recognised by all the Powers' representatives at Geneva. Ho .practically dominated tho Financo Commission s siti!£gs for a fortnight and was insistent that the generally extravagant ideas ot the establishment should ho remodelled, llfough ho was naturally faced with coneierable opposition from vested, interes s, ho succeeded finally in securing sufficient support to ensure that future bXte shall be rigorously «£™mi«d. He mSe\ great fight again*tth« establishment of several now an<l costly rodenorident comm ssions, and the Assemoi} toted his view by altering tho conshluHon of these bodies from a permanent character to that of merely tempprarj a v[wy committees, flenator Milieu* efforts will result in saving hundreds of to, sands a year without impairing the offic ncv of the scheme to prevent war, and will also save Australia a very big sum n contributions to tho League. Ausiralia was charged at the same rate as ■>ance and Britain.. Although relief -jriU not to immediate, it will intimately be "Rained and made retrospechve.-Aus, N.Z. Cable Assn.