LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1926, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

THE BELGIAN VIEW BRUSSELS, .March 3.

fn the Belgian Chamber, M. V

dcrvoldc. referring to the question of the Council of tin? League, said that Belgium periodically had to run the risk of not having her seal, renewed. II? thought that it was desirable to counter this risk by means of a regulation fixing definitely the duration of such mandates anil the conditions for re-election. This regulation had been framed, and, if ratified by Spain it would come into force as an amendment to Article Four of the Covenant. He declared that it was a serious mistake to (Tscrihe the new eandi-

ihthires for a permanent scat on the. League Council as a counterpoise to the entry of Germany, lie spoke of the possibility of other stales than 1 the present eandiates demanding per. rnanent -.-ats on the Council. Thus the Council would he compelled to create , fresh permanent members, ami. ron^- - quontly. In inrivuse the number of i non-pormanent scats. Thus they would have a Council of eighteen or twenty, I and even more menders. The result would he that the League Assembly woidd be. discredited by comparison with the Council, which would include nearly nil the politically important States, while the States that wero members- of the Council would suffer a dangerous loss of influence, and there inevitably would arise in the unwicldl.v Council a small Committee which would he the really decisive body. M. Vaiidcrvelt'i? t (included by re-echoing Sir Austin Chamberlain's desire to go to Geneva with hands fro.' and sock a conciliatory solution. BRUSSELS, .March I!. The Senate has unanimously adopted the Locarno agreements and the adhesion of Belgium to the Hague Court of International .Justice. SCENE IN COMMONS. LONDON, March -I. In the House of Commons, the first question on the business paper caused an angry scene. Mr Neil MaoT.ean complained that the Minister’s answer relative to pensions was incomplete. He declined the Speaker’s order to resume liis seat or leave the Chamber and was suspended on the motion of Sir W. .Joynsou-1 licks. | DOMINION AND COUNCIL. LONDON. March 1. In the House of Commons the Prime Minister told Mr Harris that there would he ample opportunity at Geneva for a discussion l*.v the Dominion dele- 1 gates on the constitution of the League ‘

Council. THE BRITISH VIEWPOINT. LONDON, March L In the House of Commons, on the formal motion for the adjournment. Sir Austen Chamberlain (Eoreign Secretary) said that in view of the anxiety here and abroad, it was only right that there should he a statement of the British viewpoint on the subject of increasing the Council of the League of Nations. Personally, he felt that it would he much easier to increase tthe difficulties with which they would he confronted at Geneva than to lessen them, by any words lie could use. Sir Austen confessed that they had to watch the controversy with the greatest anxiety. Thev would" meet at Geneva with many conflicting views inspired by national feeling and tradition. but if the League was to eonliiitto to grow in influence and power they, at Geneva, would have to talk, not in their own language, but in the language, of Europe.