LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1920, Page 1

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

(Reuter’s Telegrnm.)

WHAT IT IS DOING. LONDON, Juno 17

In the Commons Lord Harmsworth stated that the members of the League of Nation s had hitherto contributed £170,000 sterling to its funds. On a vote for British Embassies and Consular services under which expenses for tlie League fall, Hon. Balfour claimed tho League ,of Nations had already performed considerable services' to the world. ' The permanent s ecretar_ ini of the League would remain in London. There would be a general meeting of the League in November, when its future would be decided. Mr Baifour mentioned that an office had been established for the, registration of treaties, and henceforth no treaty would be valid unless it was registered and open for inspection. Ho stated the question of the division of expenses among mqm_ bor s of the League would be submitted to experts of tho international, financial conference at Brussels, dealing with the four permanent committees established under the League, on arm a. ments, health transit and international justice respectively. Mr Balfour emphasised the importance of work of the Armaments Committees and pointed out that everything depended on the nations supporting the policy of disarmament. If each nation declined to adopt disarmament, on the ground that armements were necessary for its security, then the tragedy for the League of Nations and the world ,would be great indeed. 1 . Dealing with the work of the Leainie in connection with the Peace Treaty, Mr Balfour mentioned the appointment of a. commission to delimit Saar Vallo.v, and also the International Body to administer Saar Valley. The League had appointed a High Commissioner for Dantzig, who bad framed a constitution for Dantzig, to the general satisfaction and was drawing up a Treaty between Dantzig and Poland. The League was also dealing with the question of the threatened spread of the Zymotic disease from .the cast, west wind, especially in Poland. The League acted through Red Cross Societies and appealed to nations for funds. The League was also supervising the return of prisoners from Russian Luiope and vice versa. The League was also considering the question of international finance and dislocation .of credit in regard'to which a meeting of experts of the world, would be held. The League was doing its best to find a Euiopean power to undertake a mandate over Armenia. \ Mr Balfour proceeded to protest against the activities of enthusiasts who wore urging the creation of a superstate to direct and force levies to be paid by sovereign stales of the world, and declared the problem must be dealt with hy the Supreme Council, or otlieiwise those who were throwing that burden upon the League, would be doing it the greatest possible dis-servico. The League if overloaded, would assuredly break down, and the most promising effort hitherto made in the direction of the new civilisation, would be destroyed.

TO AVOID WAR. LONDON, June 18,

Representatives of the League of Nations in favour of abolishing war, waited in a deputation on Hon Lloyd George Mi- Balfour and Lord Curzon. ’ The Premier catachized the deputation. He endeavoured to pin them to

details with a view to demonstrating abolition of war to be impracticable The Premier declared that the Great Powers were already too entangled to supply any forces to create an international police force. Moreover, lie said, discussion in that connection would be aidle/ until America came into the. Le-

gue. ' , Mr Balfour inquired where the proposed forces would be kept. He queried- “in St Helena, or Labrador? He said if they were kept in France they could not fight against France. If they wore kept in Britain, they certainly could not fight England. ' The Premier said he would emphasise the point that any present attempt to force a general peace would only destroy the League of Nations.