LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1924, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

THE PEACE PLAN. GENEVA, September 18. It transpires that the basis of the proposed pad which the sub-commit-tee is discussing will l.e that al! the signatories shall undertake to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court ol International Justice, and submit all disputes, the settlement ol which is not provided for under articles twelve, thirteen, and fifteen, cl the Covenant of the League, which shall give a decision by a majority vote, the procedure in regard to arbitration U still to he settled, and possibly ill view of the objections raised by one delegation, a separate body, instead of the Council of the League may he established as a Court of Arbitration. The question of partial agreements or so-called regional agreements between various States, apparently led to considerable discussion yesterday. Finally, a French proposal was agreed to, namely, that so long as the ( ove'fant was not universal, partial agreements should continue to exist, though coming within the scone ol the general pact for mutual assistance, provided they are registered and published by tlie League. The Budget Committee of the League, by sixteen votes rejected an Italian proposal to increase the vote for health organisation by two hundred thousand francs. Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and India voted against, Australia and Canada for the motion. The Canadian delegate was absent. A proposal of Ura-'.il and Portugal, however, to make the increase Bit),(11)0 francs was adopted by 2> to 11. The present iirraligemefits for the international exchange nT lien I tl> officers will he maintained. The committee voted two hundred thousand francs tor the settlement yj refugees, with a rider, added* hy Sir Henry, Starkoseli (South Africa), that the appropriation must disappear in B;2t>.

WHAT PROTOCOL PROVIDES. GENEVA, September If). At the League of Nations it lias I,ecu agreed that a protocol shall he imperative until it is ratified hy fifteen States, and till the disarmament conference to he called lias actually reached an agreement. This conference will lie called six weeks after the last ratification, the receivable date for which has been fixed as the first of Alav next. It is expected, therefore, that the conference on disarmament will he held on the fifteenth of June next at the latest. Germany and America will in any ease he invited. Al. Relies received the provisions of the priicotol, which is absolutely as the original dralt, except that an aggressor is held responsible |or the iosi of all joint League action; secondly, stales refusing to sign the Procotol will not have their rights or position injured thereby: thirdly, the League Council can give financial aid to small states having their commerce injured hv their joining in att economic block-

-LATEST DECISIONS. GENEVA, September 2lh Air Henderson has announced that til,. International Conlereme on Disarmament would meet on .June l-> next.

It is confirmed that the Sub-Com-mittee dealing with arbitration security and disarmament, has reached an agreement. ‘ The Fourth Commission has adopted a proposal for an estimated expenditure of half a million for the construction of a projected palace lor the League of Nations. Delegates have left lor Germany on a semi-official mission, and will discuss with ( hnnccllor Marx t )v- (ptrst ion o] (leimany - admission to I l»- l.e.c-.ne.

POLICING THE SEAS. LONDON, September 26. The “Daily Telegraph” Geneva corrosp luli'ii: says: “The idea of England becoming the League’s policeman of tl„. seas lias dcliiiitelv been abandoned. All seem to agree that tin? definition of an aggressor is a power refusing arbitration, and not submitting to a regular inquiry. This alone would not prevent war, but, in the opinion of the British and Scandinavian delegations, the more advance towards disarmament the easier will be the task of obtaining the recognition ol arbitration and of its decisions. The "Morning Post” says: “ I lie British have made a considerable eoncession on llie subject of military and economic sanctions, while a Franch advance c:t the matter of disarmament to extend so far is not hoped for.

T BEAT A' UF AUBITRA'IION. [Reuters Telegrams.] (Received this day al 10.25 a.m.) GENEVA. Sept. 21. In pursuance of a resolution of the ( hiiu'se Parliament, the Chinese delegali.'ii at the League of Nations meeting, is pressing for the reelect ion of Chnia to a seat oil the Council. bailing this conces-ion. China "ill withdraw from the League. Signor Sahindta aiiuoumed that the Italo-Swiss treaty of general arbitiatinu had been signed. It was a most emh.asive treaty for roll: iliatiou and peau'. Yet. be concluded, it permitting uf a settlement of all conflicts without exception. It provides for all dill'ei'cnces to be submitted to the I liter nn t ionn 1 Court of Justice after other means of coneiiiiitiii have tailed.