LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1922, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

MANDATES REPORT. AINJi ».6. CAULK ABaUCiAIiO.N. LONDON, September o. 'l'i;t! report acknowledges the. receipt of commentaries by Sir Joseph Cook (101 Australia) in reference to the mandate over Nauru, and matters under reference to tiie Japanese, both replying to tee Mandatory Commission’s criticisms on the mandate administration made at the Geneva meeting of the League in August. The repoi-t does not quote or even indicate the nature of the commentaries. Referring to the employment • of indentured labour in the mandated territories, in the Pacific, the report endorses the Mandate Commission’s opinions, as expressed at the last Geneva meeting. -It also concurs with the recommendations requiring more complete information in that connection in future.

The report has also demanded further information, defining the exact status of Nauru. The chairman’s report continues: “The reports of the debates, to which the situation in Nauru lias given rise in 1922, have excited - general interest. The League Council desire to associate themselves with the hope expressed by the Mandatory Commission that the requested subsequent information will clear up the points which still seem to be obscure, and will definitely allay the anxiety which has been shown.

Lord Balfour said he was not prepared to adopt this criticism of the administration of the mandated territories by any part of the British Empire. His reason was because he had not had an opportunity of seeing the evidence on which the criticism is founded, or of rebutting that evidence The Chairman of the League explained that the object of the report was to draw the attention of the Mandatory Powers to certain matters.

Lord Balfour replied that if the comment was to be confined to drawing their addition, he would not object to the Council receiving the report, but lie made it clear that he declined to he associated with the judgment which he had not had opportunity of investigating, particular!;; if it implied any criticism in reference to any part of the British Empire. The Chairman replied that the Council was not associated with the criticism. It had merely passed it on to the League Assembly.

Lord Balfour whereupon withdrew his opposition.

The report was adopted. The Australian Press Association’s Geneva correspondent states:—The Mandates report was prepared oil behalf of the League Council by tlie Marquis Imperialdi, who submitted it to the Council. • GENEVA, September 5. The President- of the League of Nations has announced the election of Vice Presidents lias been postponed until to-morrow. He was endeavouring to induce Peru to accept a vice-Presidency. Bolivia lias decided to he represented.