LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1926, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

’’ustralin & N.Z. Cable* Association.] LEAGUE COUNCIL. LONDON, Aug. 31. All the despatches from Geneva concentrate on Spain’s policy. The chief Spanish delegate, Senor Palacios, today asked the Commission dealing with the Allocation of Council Seats to give Spain a permanent seat. He added that he desired a prompt reply', but, at Lord Cecil’s suggestion, a general debate on the reorganisation of the Council was initiated, and it went throughout the day.

I Meanwhile, the British. French, Goran and Polish representatives are oon- ! ferring privately. The Spanish delegates have gone to Madrid to seek final instructions, while Brazil has sent out a formal letter of farewell to the League. Yet Sonar Mcllofranen (Brazilan delegate) is remaining at Geneva, as a sort of unofficial Brazilian observer. From this, a mibl liO(x? is rekindled. The “Dailv Express’s” special correspondent says that the consensus of opinion is that Spain will withdraw from the League, hut that Italy’s attitude remains a mystery, of which Tangier is the kernel. Following Spain’s demand for a final decision regarding her claims , for a permanent seaton the League Council. Lord Cecil moved, that the Council should first consider the question of a non-pennanent member. Accordingly, M. Frnmageot (French delegate) moved an amendment designed to smooth the way for Poland, and even Spain, to the effect that, out of the occupants of the nine elective scats on the Council provided under Lord Cecil’s plan, three would ho eligible for re-election on the expiry of the prescribed term of three years, and that the coming Assembly should decide which seats should he so re-eligible. The amendment was adopted with the evident hope that Poland or Snain would he two out of three eligibles, and would he thus pacified, Whether this rather transparent manoeuvre will succeed, remains to be seen. The ‘•Morning Post’s” Geneva correspondent says he i.s informed that if Britain and France agree to Spain’s Tangier aspirations, she will forego a permanent seat, hut if refused both, she will withdraw from the League.

The internal situation in Spain remains obscure. The strictest censorship i.s still enforced. The Director, General Prime Re Rivera. in a message to the Central Nows dated August 29th., says that the military question in Spain is being settled without any breach of discipline, the Governn-cuc acting with firmness. On the other hand, a revolutionary movement in Spain appears to he taken seriously at Geneva, where the Spanish delegation is reported as declaring that the Spanish foreign policy will in no way he changed should General de Rivera fall.