LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1925, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

MANDATED TEH RITOIIY LOANS. DECISION POSTPONED. [ReOTKHS TelF-ORAMS.] (Received this (lay at 8.30 a.in.) GENEVA, March I‘2. V ill) reference to loans and advances for investments in mandated territories the Council of tile League requested the Mandates Commission to prepare a draft decision postponing the matter to a later session with a view to deciding the question on Lhe basis of the views expressed by the mandatory powers after an exhaustive examination of this important and delicate legal question. It is understood the whole point of tin foregoing decision is not to discourage investment in those areas, even in the remote contingency of a change of mandate. ]t is hoped the resolution asking the Mandates’ Commission itself. which already possesses the views of the Dominions, to draw up the decisions which will come up' before the next Council in .June, will have the effect of stimulating development in the mandated countries. BRITAIN SCRAPS PROTOCOL. GENEVA, .March 12. .Mr Austen Chamberlain announces that Britain was unable to accept the protocol.

BRITAIN’S REASONS

(Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) GENEVA, March 12.

Mr Austen Chamberlain, addressing the Council of the League, announced His Majesty’s advisers, after discussion of the protocol with the Dominions and India, were unable to sign or ratify it in its present form. 'Die British Government did not lielicve the protocol, a« it stood, provided the most suitable methods for attempting the task for which it was intended. He had not had time, personally, to confer with the representatives of the Dominions and India, hut there had been t<legrnphie communication with the Deminions. Canada was unable to accept the protocol.

GENEVA. March 12. Mr Chamberlain stressed the Empire’s sympathy with the main themes of the protocol, hut changes made in the protocol were formal rather than substantial, aiming at theoretical completeness rather than practical effect, and accomplishing nothing of importance in the cause of peace and disarmament. It appeared from the telegraphic communications that Canada. Australia. N.Z., South Africa and India also were nimble to accept the protocol. Me was not yet in possession ol the views of the Irish Free State. Mis Majesty’s Government concluded that the best way to deal with the situation was to supplement the Covenant hv special arrangements to meet special needs. These' must lie purely defensive in spirit. The Covenant was close to harmony in the League. These were host attained l>v means of treaties framed to maintain unbroken peace. No quicker remedy could lie found against future calamities. The work of the League continues beneficial and promising, though America remains in friendly aloofness. Individual Americans extended sympathy, service and generosity. It would he most unwise to add to the liabilities already incurred by the League without considering the machinery. The Covenant was already weakened by the abstention ot certain States. 'lho change especially as regards economic sanctions amounted to a transformation. Economic sanctions would he a weapon of incalculable power, but there were in existence powerful economic communities outside the League, which changed all ■ that. Referring to clause fifteen of the protocol Mis Majesty’s Government <lirl not desire to relieve the aggressor I rum the duty of repairing the damage. They strongly held the view that Irontiers should neither lie lightly made or lightly violated. They accepted the principle of Sovereign States managing their own affairs, hut considered it unwise to cmljody these generalities in dogmas of inflexible rigidity, applicable 'to all circumstances and to all lime. He failed to see why the League should deliberately deprive itself of the discretion which all other tribunals were free to exercise, dealing with unprovoked aggression or barbarous war. Mi Chamberlain said the second half of Clause 15, protected the aggressor, lie asked whether in such a ease the League was to do nothing better than ask for money.

LATEST CABLE NEWS