THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1926, Page 3

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] SOVIET VIEW. LONDON, Manli 11. A Riga correspondent says a new lijrtht is thrown on the Soviet’s attitude towards the League of Nations by M. Rykoff, who, speaking in Leningrad, pointed out that two distinct forces were endeavouring to unify Europe, namely: the League of

Nations and Moscow, lie expressed the opinion that both have chances of success, hut Moscow is more likely to secure a victory, because they were seeking a united trade union front ; whereas the clashing Capitalist interests of the various countries will spoil the League’s chances. Nevertheless, M. Rykolf predicted a. considerable period of European peace, and lie declared that if Russia was enabled to participate in the disarmament conference she would introduce far reaching proposals for the decrease of armies and their curtailment, or prohibition of the manufacture of armaments.

( AItDS WILL HE SHOWN. fßoceivcd this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. March I.'!. While the London papers yesterday morning regarded the position as hopeless, the Australian Press Association indicated the possibility of eleventh ihour solutions. These were forthcoming during the course of the dav.

Dr Luther and Dr Streseiiianii strongly advocated referring the whole question of the new seats to the coinmission reporting in .September.

Meantime several minor States inti mated their willingness to withdraw from the Council in order to facilitaU the entry of the newcomers. A Council meeting, unofficially, how ever, decided to convoke the Assembly on Tuesday for consideration ol Germany’s entry, following which tin Council will meet for the purpose ol creating p permanent seat for Germany.

This Council will he a critical one and will force all to show their hands. Germany, failing unanimity, may withdraw from the League, in which case the Council will appear before the Assembly in order to explain its position publicly.

Dr Strescinann conferred with NT. Briand for two hours in the evening and later be issued a statement in which lie said that it was a. grotesque performance to invite Germany to Geneva to keep her waiting for a weekwhile Nothing occurred, except demands that Germany .should accept various conditions before she became a member.

Dr Streseiiianii reiterated that he was willing to agree to the appointment of a commission. Germany was ready, as soon as she was admitted, to do her utmost to solve the problem at the September session and pledged herself to do so. Whatever nations the Assembly then elected she would readily accept regardless of whether she was with the majority or the minority.

It is ridiculous, declared Dr Strcsemann later to tho press, that the peace policy should he shattered for the sake of the petty creation of a seat on the Council. The Locarno partners should stick together.

Dr Luther, in addressing the German journalists, said: “We cannot differentiate between permanent and non-permnnent scats because our attitude is based on the principle that we cannot bring pressure on anybody. We support the commission. Wait and seo what happens. The whole question, th-'erefore. remains shelved tiutil Tuesday, unless, in 1 lie meantime, as hoped, everything is smoothed for Germany’s entry unconditionally.

The British press remains nervous. Many papers pass no comment and those which do lament the squabbling. The “ Daily Chronicle ” asks, why does Mr Baldwin permit it? The paper goes on to say that if Sir Austen Chamberlain said frankly that the Council had been called together solely to admit Germany, the intrigue would have' dried up, instead of festering into an ulcer which was poisoning the League's lifeblood. The “ Observer ” says a long week of squalid squabble has been besmirched jin the name of Locarno, which has discredited the Leakue like nothing since its foundation. All its enemies are exultant and its supporters stand aghast. The Bolshevists and Junker die-hards rejoice, while Americau alienation is now contemptuously confirmed and the friends of reconciliation in Germany are weakened. It is no time to he mealy mouthed. In Britain the whole episode has made a disgusting impression on public opinion. Every dictate of decency required that the letter and spirit of Locarno should he implemented before the claims of Poland, Spain and Brazil were raised.

The “ Sunday Express ” says that tho whole world stands aghast at the cold-blooded murder of the Locarno spirit. The before-war grouping of antagonists lias been all resurrected in darker and deadlier forms. Tho “Sunday Times” says: "We are to blame for not having asserted ourselves sooner and made it plain to everybody, firstly, that we regarded Germany’s sole admission as a point of honour; and, secondly, that it was our policy to reserve permanent seats for the great powers.

NEW CONFLUENCE! HALL. GENEVA, March 13. The morning sitting of the Assembly was of the briefest. The President paid a tribute to the memory of M. Leon Bourgeois, whereafter it adopted the report of tho Committee of Supplementary Estimates on the erection of tho Conference Hall and annexes, involving ail expenditure of thirteen million Swiss francs. MOST SHAMEFUL. SIR, AUSTEN'S DIPLOMACY ATTACKED. LONDON. March It. Apparently Prc.sitiie.nt jliiulonhuig has torjwdoed the suggested compromise for upon receiving a telegram from Berlin, Dr Luther rushed hotfoot to Sir Austen Chamberlain's hotel t\ ith tho news. Though the delegates at Geneva are outspokenly laying tho blame on Gorman feeling in Britain, which is somewhat dilferent. the people- are asking why Mr Baldwin permits the scandal to continue. The “Daily Chronicle" says: “This then is tho outcome of Sir Austen Clianilierlain’s free hand. The unseemly wrangle would never have occurred if the Government had adopted the attitude of British opinion, which unanimously favours, despite Mr Baldwin’s assurances to the contrary, this it is clear Sir A listen Chamberlain has been supporting the French intrigue all tho week. It is one of tho most shameful and futile gestures of Bi'itsh diplomatic,!- since the days of Charles II.” BERLIN. March 14. Tho German standpoint at Geneva is explained in a semi-official statement that after careful consideration the German delegates have decided that jt js impossible for Germany

in flic matter of her entry into tho Ixuigue, to depart from the fundamental principles, or give a binding undertaking in regard to her futuio policy in the League, particularly in view of the efforts of some, of the members of the League. FBENCH Cl-AM E GERMANS! CAULS. March lb “If ;i breakdown occurs at Geneva the Germans alone are responsible,” is the unanimous opinion of the newspapers, which point out that the Allies have gone to the extreme limit in the way of concessions. "bo Journal’s'’ Geneva correspondent complains that the Germans have shown no .signs of goodwill. The “Echo de Baris" thinks that the curtain is far from being rung down iit Geneva and adds: “There is even ground for tho fear that, as a result of I lie previous agreement between Era in c and the other powers, the League Council will now he compelled. by virtue of the agenda for tho session, to declare itself in favour of the admission of Germany.

A correspondent suggests that France will not oppose Germany’s entry in the face of the ‘Locarno Pact and risk incurring the reproach of the whole Anglo-Saxon race. The correspondent mentions that, .the Haitian delegate stated that Mussolini had instructed him to vote for Germany and concluded by suggesting that France will l:o dragged along the same path.