LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1920, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

i AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION • THE MANDATES. \ LONDON, Dec. 14. The Australian press Geneva correspondent says:—“There is much reti- _ . cence over the mandates. I understand a difficulty existing over France’s mandates has‘now been adjusted. Senator Milieu .has strenuously opposed Japan’s insistence upon an open door in regard to the mandates, he adhering unflinch- __ ingly to a claim- that this directly flicted with a promise given at ParJ^^ In this he had the support of the Britisli delegation. Senator Millen has ' evaded questioning on the amount of success attained. Nevertheless he gave the impression that the situation fav- - on red Australia’s aspirations. Senator Millen has realised more is to be gained by negotiations than by drastic speeches in the Assembly. Sir James Allen is less reserved, and expressed the opinion that the mandates would prove quite satisfactory ,implying that Japan’s objections had been overcome. Prince Ilanjitsinhji has written to Senator Millen and their overseas delegations highly appreciating the spirit of good fellowship displayed towards India, and inviting overseas members to visit India when he and other ruling Princes would accord them a hearty ! welcome.

In the League Assembly, Mr Barnes, discussing the reduction of armaments report said he could have wished there was a little less prudence and a little more pluck imparted into it. He asked for a clearer cut declaration as to what “reduction” meant. After discussion, the report was adopted. REPORTS PRESENTED. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) GENEVA, Deo 4. The Committee presented its report on opium and the white slave traffic, and India’s claim to representation on the Labour organisations as a great industrial country. The Committee recommended its acquiescence with Netherland’s desire that the League of Nations should assume the duties hitherto carried out by the Opium Convention; also that the signatures to the Convention be non-members of the League, and should be invited to appoint assessors on the League’s Advisory Committee with a\ special invitation to America. The Committee unanimously recommended that the League should undertake the obligations with respect to the white slave traffic, but decided that the Assembly was not competent to decide India’s claim, the Council alone was competent to decide as to which are the principal industrial Powers. The opium and white slave traffic reports were adopted. The Assembly authorised the Secretariat to send a questionaire to all Governments asking what legislative measures will bo taken to combat the traffic. An interesting "feature of the debate was a speech in English by Miss Torcbliimmer, (a Danish delegate), the first woman to address the Assembly, who ap pealed to every Government to legislate for the suppression of the traffic, which was a blot on civilisation.

AGENTINE AND THE LEAGUE. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) \yr, PARIS, Dec. 14. ~ The Foreign Office declared that the Argentine Government will not give any notification of its withdrawal from the League of Nations because it does not consider Argentina to have ever been a member of the League. The Foreign Office pointed this out in a series of diplomatic documents recently published which showed Argentina accepted the formation of the League in principle. Argentina sent delegates for the purpose of assisting in the organisation of the League, but its adhesion was conditional on tli© question of the ratification of Argentina’s participation which would have been to Congress had the League been formed in the manner acceptable to Argentina. The withdrawal of the delegates ends . the matter so far as tlie present League is concerned.