LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1920, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

TAUSTRALIAN N.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION

SIR J. ALLEN’S VIEW. N®W YORK, December 1

The “Evening Post’s” Geneva correspondent, interviewed the New iZealand representative, Sir J. Allen, who said Japan has, and should have the right to raise the question of racial query again, but she should wait until she attains equality with other races, which the rest of the world can recognise she has not got. Let her for one thing pay her labour what other Pacific Coast countries pay.

(Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) GENEVA, December 2,

The Assembly resumed its deliberations. The President proposed to send messages expressing the Assembly’s thanks for the response in regard to Armenia. Lord Cecil also desired to thank M. Vivani, whose eloquence and support had led to action being taken, and to the press for the world-wide publication given to the appeal.

Mr Balfour submitted a report on the amendment to the covenant, and explained it was not because the covenant was incapable of amendment now, but because the Scandinavian amendments were now worthy of the most careful consideration. The Commission had two motives, firstly to change the Treaty of Versailles with which the covenant was embodied and secondly, the League as yet was very young, and ought to gain more experience before making alterations. .He moved that the Council appoint a committee to consider the Scandinavian amendments and report at next session. The Portuguese delegate reminded the Assembly that the Covenant drafted by victorious countries should be modified to suit other countries. Portugal desired to submit an amendment, but he agreed with delay until next session. M. Motta (Switzerland) said it was inadmissable to concede that the Covenant was bound up with; the Versailles Treaty. It contained a for its own revision. He admitted neutrals were invited to participate in drafting the covenant, but their non-acceptance should not prevent amendments now. M. Bourgeois pointed out there were many things in the Covenant that did did not affect the Treaty but there were others in the Covenant which were bound up with the Treaty, namely, certain things were demanded as a condition of admission into the League. On the motion being put the first note of discord came from Argentina which objected to the Assembly not discussing the Amendment. TKe President declared the motion adopted., Argentina dissenting. Dujring the preliminary discussions on- the budget Mr Collins (Australia) took exception to 38 officers, receiving salaries of £IOOO upwards, forty-eight from five hundred to a thousand, out of a total of 185 employees. A notable feature/of assembly’s sittings has been the large attendance of the public, the galleries always being crowded.

RACE EQUALITY. (Received This Day at 12.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 2. “Evening Post’s” Geneva correspondent interviewed Count Ishii, who‘said: “By an opportune moment for the reintroduction of the race equality question I mean when the time comes that our campaign of education in California, Canada and Australia has succeeded and we have convinced the peoples of those countries they have nothing to fear from Japan. We know the American Federal Government sympathises with our Government, but cannot act while the prejudice continues in part of the United States. The prejudice will cease in future, because of our strict adherence to agreement concerning labour and immigration. Then California will realise she has been over suspicious and apprehensive. Then will be the opportune time to appeal to the League for the recognition of equality for my race, and the United States will support us. The same will also be true for the same reasons in Canada, and even Australia, which is far more bitter than California and Canada. It was not Mr Wilßon or Colonel House who denied our appeal for recognition when the covenant was first framed, but it was set aside owing tothe influence of the British Dominions.”