LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1920, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

MR MASSEY’S YIEWS. limn Pll ESS ASSOCIATION.—OOPYSIGHT.: WELLINGTON, Feb. 25.

The following* statement lias been made by the Prime -Minister in answer to a question as to the attitude of the New Zealand Government in regard to the objection of the United States of America to the position given to the overseas Dominions in the League of Nations, namely a vote each:— “I could not possibly agree to any suggestion that New Zealand should give up its right to take a part in the •League of Nations as a Dominion of tlie British Empire, as provided for in Article One of the Covenant and the Annex to the latter. On the contrary, I am confident that New .Zealand will stand with Canada, and insist on our nationhood as dominions, continued to be recognised. Although it is always nationhood within the Empire, we have to think of the future, rather than the present, and if we give away our rights and privileges now, or consent to important reservations on the part of other members of the League, then the time will come when the citizens of the overseas countries in the Empire will blame us, and very properly, for our want of foresight. I had hoped, jipd hope still, to see, Anglo-Saxon nations unite for the preservation of peace, though” the re? cent indications in the United States are not encouraging. In connection with the difficulty which has arisen, it is well to remember the first paragraph of Article Five, ns follows: ‘Except where otherwise expressly provided on this Covenant, or by the terms of this present Treaty, decisions at any meeting of the Assembly or of the Council, shall require the agreement of all members of the League represented at the meeting,’ This simply means that in all important matters, there must be unanimity, though so far as the Council is concerned, there is very little prospect of any representative of British Dominions being permanently appointed to it.”