LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1922, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ■ the contribution’s. GENEVA September 13. Tile first year’s contributions to the League of Nations’ expenses were based on those of the Postal Union, but, as that allocation put Australia, Britain and France in the same category . it obviously was inequitable. The sec ond year’s basis was inadequate to meet the league’s financial obligations. The committee on the Allocation of Expenses has been struggling unsuccessfully ever since to find a basic principle upon which to fix the contributions. It has now adopted an arbitrary basis, to pay due regard to each country's resources and conditions. Fifteen States have ! had . tliejr contributions increased, in--1 eluding Britain, arid Australia (the latter from £15,000 to £25,000). the minor States are not affected., including New Zealand, which pays £IO,OOO. Canada pays £35.000, and South Africa £15.000. Britain is the .biggest contributor, with £02,000. “France, which formerly was in the same i category as Britain, now pays £78.000, having been allowed reductions by reason of the devastation of her territory Many others are allowed similar reductions. For instance, Austria jaw only £IOOO, and 12 other countries have J practically defaulted, mostly the Balkans. These recommendations are silb- : joct to approval by the Assembly. I Nauru dispute. GENEVA, Sept. 13. Before passing the resolution as cabled, the . sub-committee, on Lord Cecil’s suggestion, expressed a general approval of the mandates report, which M. Theodorli presented to U'o August meeting.' The committee then proceeded lo consider the . report, paragraph by paragraph. The principal discussion I took" place on the following parai graphs: . ij) The commission reported: j wealth of Nauru consists in its rc’i ld-posits of phosphates, for cxrl Ration of-which the Governments o r Aus I trr.iia, Britain and New Zealand have j reserved to themselves exclusive rigid s. ! The sub-eomniittce replied bv a motion, drafted by Lord Cecil, as representative of the British delegation, to the effect that the above sentence might lead to a misapprehension. He stated it would be more correct to pay as was explained to the Mandates Commission in August, by representatives of these three Governments concerned. I that these rights had. in fact, helnngled to a British Phosphate Company | and that they had been purchased voluntarily from the company by th :e Governments. 1 The sub-committee also resolved that ■ it was inaccurate to say. as M. rh-c----j deli’s report did { that "the 1-riti ’ Empire bad transferred the responsibility for the administration of Nauru j to Britain. Australia, and New 7 I land.” It would lie more correct to say the British Empire bad provided for the administration of Nauru by Australia. GENEVA, Sept. 1 > i Sir F. Bell ("New Zealand* stales 1 it is believed the Mandates Column--1 sion’s supporters will now endeavour , to defeat the resolutions of the suhI committee that were dralted by I | Cecil when they come before the tub committee. Failing that. Sir Francis Hell says they will continue their h--' in the League Assembly. •Lord Cecil informed the Press that Mr Sheldon’s motion, re disarmament, was based on a misconception. I hero 1 was nothing, he claimed, to prevent the South American republics, or any other group of small nations, from forming a pact for a reduction ot armaments, and for guaranteeing other security. All bis -'Cecil s) resolution declared was that such coin, pacts, t 6 be successful, must be g"n- ---| H was obnoxious that il small nations disarmed, and other rati ny did not, the small nations would lie H the mercy of the big nations. hciyy forc it was necessary that tin- grea Powers should be among the first disarm.