LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1923, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

AUSTRALIAN" AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. DAMAGES FIRST QUESTION. GENEVA, Sept. 7. The early part of Friday was devoted to conferences between tho League delegates with a view to clearing the ground, and seeing what compromise in procedure was admissable, if any. The delegates are awaiting a lead from France, whose delegates are anxious to placate Italy and yet- not to jeopardise tho French position in the .Mediterranean, or to alienate Belgium, or to ignore the Little Entente.

Tli Council of the League met during the evening. There was great excitement amongst tbe spectators, many police guarding the doors. Amid tense silence Count Isliii opened the meeting of the Council, reading tbe Note of the Ambasadors’ Council on the Janina incident. Count Ishii demanded that the League should send an answer. Senor Quine-Nesdeleon. .Spanish delegat, then introduced tbe draft of a text to serve as the basis of a discussion, in which the Council of the League said that ft adhered to the principles of international law, as set out in the Ambasadors’ Note. Tbe draft then gave a list of tbe acts of satisfae-. tion which should be demanded from Greece, including a full memorial service for dead in the presence of all members of the Greek Government-; that tho Greek Fleet should saluto tho Italian Fleet; that military honours .should be given to the bodies of tbe dead; that Greece deposit a sum of 50.099,000 lire ; and that the question of the amount of the indemnity payable be submitted to the International Court of Justice.

Signor Sahuulru (Italy) replying, said be regretted Senior Quine-Xcsdcleon’s resolution implied an inquiry by tho Council of tbe League. He urged that the action of the League had been too hasty, as many of the points could be discussed when the Council of Ambassadors had taken a decision. Suppose, he said, it were proved that Albanians bad committed tbe murder, the whole situation would lx> changed. He was not opposed to a discussion, but .he mndo reserves on the question of the competency of the league. He maintained that the Italian Government had a right, alone, to discuss with Greece tho question of the reparations. M. Hymans (Belgium) said be could not associate himself with the argument of tbe League’s incompetence, which Signor Salandra had advanced.

M. Branting (Sweden) said tbe position of the Council would be strengthened if it was associated with the Conference of Ambassadors. M. Hanataux (France) suggested detailed proposals of tbe Spanish delegate. He said they should be reserved for fuller consideration. Lord Robert Cecil (Britain) concurred with M. Hanataux. He urged the undesirability of estimating the damages before the culpability had been determined. He said that there was not the slightest doubt on the mind ot the British Government that tbe League was competent to deal with the matter which Greeco bad brought forward.

LEAGUE COUNCIL WAITING. GENEVA, Sept. 8. Tlio Council of the League of Nations is unlikely further to consider the question of the Jnnimi reparations, pending some intimation from Athens and Home, in response to the Ambassadors' Conference Note to Greece. The question of the evacuation of Corfu, and tho competence of the League to deal therewith, remains, as the satisfaction demanded from Greece is practically identical with the suggestion made by M. I’oltis, and the Council. It is not thought Greece will decline, nor Italy object. The situation generally is viewed hopefully. CHEEK ATTITUDE. LONDON. Kept. 8. The “Daily Express” Athens correspondent states he has had an interview with M. Oonatas, Greek Premier. ■ tv ho declared the situation was better, because Greece had given every proof of her good faith. “What, after all.” he asked, “does Italy want!' hirst, we accepted the League of Nations; then we accepted the Conference of Ambassadors, and now we accept the Hague Court.” In reply to a question as to what Greece will do if Italy resists all these efforts at settlement, M. Collates replied i—“ Greece will then expect the League of Nations to enforce its decision, as provided by'its Covenant.” M. Oonatas denied the statements that his Government had asked the Serbians for military assistance in the event of a conflict. CHEEK KINO’S CRITICISM. LONDON, Sept. 8. “The Daily Express’s” special corros'pondent at Athens states lie has interviewed King George of Greece, who said:—“ft is a rotten job, being King, and I am tired of it after a year. I know that I am a military man, and I know nothing of politics, and I only hoar wlint lam told in the army. It is customary, when someone does something which should not have been done, for an inquiry to be held, and the guilty ones then punished. Signor .Mussolini seems to have reversed the process. Wo have been mobilised for twelve years, and 1 thought we were going to ; have a period of peace. Our people are just like your soldiers, who wt-io shell-shocked. ' Their nerves are all 140110. ** The King continued:— , *Sn fur ns Ihe Italians are concerned, we trusted them. My brother, who is a naval ollicer, saw Italians at Corfu a month ago. when tliev disembarked for exercise and played football. Our relations with I til ly were growing cordial. We had just concluded a Greco-Italian economic agreement. Now lam told Signor Mussolini has said that he wants to show the Balkans what a great power Italy is.”

In communicating to Greece the toxt of the Note submitted by the Council of the League of Nations (the Ambassadors’ Conference paid a tribute to the council’s high spirit of justice, and its anxiety to maintain international harmony.' It added that the minutes of the council's meeting on Thursday were of the most valuable assistance to the Ainbnssadors’ Conferencc.