LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1926, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

DOMINION RIGHTS. 1 [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] , GENEVA, Sept. 17. As the outcome of Ireland’s candidature for a League seat, it is now likely that Ireland, Canada and South Africa will take concerted measures at the British Imperial Conference to impress on the Conference their viewpoint of Dominion Status. It is understood that at Sir Austen Chamberlain’s meeting with the British Dominion delegates, after the voting, South Africa deeply resented the official British attitude on tho Irish candidature. Tho South African delegate said that the British Empire should have supported their own candidate. The delegate, Hon Mr Smit, admits that South Africa strongly hacked up Ireland. He told Sir Austen Chamberlain that Britain and tho rest of the Dominions shoyhl have done the same. It is understood that Hon Mr Smit alleged that only Canada and South Africa voted for Ireland. It appears that Mr Smit conferred with the British •Dominion delegates, and suggested that bloat vote he given by them for Ireland. He pointed out that Canada and South Africa did mdesirc a seat on the Council, because they wen; at present so far removed from European politics; whereas Ireland was c-losely connected with them. The time, he said, might come when they, too, would he immersed. Meanwhile, he said, Canada and South Africa desired the' recognition that the British Dominions were perfectly entitled >to such a seat when they wanted it. Ho added that the Dominions, at present, had not equal rights on the League Council with the others, lie admitted: that the Dominions were able to express their views in a. small degree! through the British Empire Council representative, hut they were voiceless if they desired to act differently -from wliat Britain wanted. Mr Smit further suggested that Britain enuld have enlisted for Ireland many votes, and could virtually ha,vc ensured the election, of Ireland to' the Council. “Whereas,” Mr Smit says, indignantly, “She preferred Czeeho-Slovakia.” IRELAND’S BACKING. Several London a lid American papers have jumped to the conclusion that the Empire delegates taetily agreed to the’ Irish Free State’s candidature for* the League Council, in order to ha*e a precedent established for the Dominion’s right to a separate seat. This is wholly wrong. The facts are .that only the Free State and South Africa favoured the candidature, while the remainder did not concur and did not vote for Ireland. GETTING TOGETHER. GENEVA, September 18. All the delegations to-night are cogitating, not only over tho importance of-M. Briand (French Foreign Minister) njnil Hejff ,Stresemann (German Foreign Minister) having had a secret outing, but over their clever manoeuvring to ensure that the journalists and the public should be put of! the scent. M. Briand at ten o’clock in the morning, left his hotel, and sauntered in one direction. Herr Stresenianiv later walked off in tho opposite direction, but, unseen and unknown to anyone, they met at an obscure street corner, where the most powerful motor ear in Geneva was awaiting them. They drove off with an interpreter. The most complete secrecy was observed, about the trip, which evidently wits carefully organised. There were no formalities on the French frontier. Tile, motor car stopped at a typical wayside inn. at Thery, which to-day has jumped from obscurity into historical importance. Ail excellent homely luncheon was served, with first class wines over coffee and liquers M. Briand was smoking an endless chain of cigarettes, while Herr Stresernann smoked cigars. They, talked for several hours, a talk which may have a most important effect on the immediate future of Europe. Herr Stresernann arrived hack at Geneva at six o’clock, all smiles. Afterwards he talked to the journalists of wliat he called “ The Mystery of Tilery.” M. Briand said To-day’s talk will he the last and most important of a series which I have had witTi Herr Stfesomann. I am satisfied with the results, and ’ I am convinced of Herr Stresemann’s loyalty. There is every reason to hope that every Franco-Ger-man grievance can he removed. As we sat down to luneelion wo were both inspired by peaceful visions of Mount Blanc unveiling itself in | snowy purity.” Then lie laughingly added : “But the snows were no purer than Herr Stresemann’s and my intentions. EFFECT OF THE ENTENTE. PARIS, September 18. The newspapers are discussing the pros and cons of the Franco-German entente. “Le Matin’s’,’ correspondent at Geneva says: “When M. Briand asked M. Stresernann what ho wanted, doubtless the German Foreign Minister had an embarrassed choice of demands, including the evacuation of the Rhineland, the renunciation of the plebiscite in the Saar Valley, the granting of the Colonial mandates to Germany, etc.” “ Le Matin’s’’ correspondent adds: “Economic conventions of great importance are going to follow the Locarno Agreement. Such a policy in collaboration is really useful condition pushed to logical consequences. The strength of D'e German economic block is not the only advantage that France might draw from the entente. We must go as tar as the liquidation of the Inter-Allied debts by mobilising the bonds provided for by the Dawes Plan. Tn this way France might secure resources by which she could immediately exchange and pay her creditors. Gorinany can bring not only her goodwill, but her credit, to these operations. I lance may be willing to content herself with far smaller sums than those represented by the Dawes plan. If Germany declares herself ready to commercialise her debt and to repay the bond subscribers within a shorter time. Frnnc'e and Germany could then re-erect, around their powerful- bloc, a Europe where pence is assured, and could re-establish a. normal market, caoahle of buying American and British goods. France might finally ask the Americans to he satisfied with smaller, but more rapid payments.” T’’e “Echo de Paris” says:—“ M. Briand is credited with the idea of bartering the occupation of Rhineland to secure an immediate advantage, such as the partial mobilisation of the German railway bonds, by which France may obtain more than one milliard of gold marks for tho stnbilisaof the franc.” German railway bonds, b v which scheme to be most fragile. It adds : “ Tt is understood that League control will shortly he substituted for tbe in ter-Allied military control in Germany.”

END OF OCCUPATION. GENEVA. September 19. Tt is understood from an unimpeachable source that M. Briand and Herr Stresernann have so far yielded to the Locarno spirit at to-day’s secret- dts-

cussions that they arc immediately recommending their respective Cabinets to include amongst the subjects for earliest consideration, the evacuation of tile Rhineland; the handing back of the Saar mines to Germany for an agreed cash payment by Germany; the cessation of the Inter-Allied Military Commissioner’s work, and a proviso that Germany is to issue bonds against J her railways in accordance with the ~"y Versailles treaty, the proceeds going to enable France, at the earliest, to stabilise the franc. In this connection, M. Lot-hour (French representative) is expected shortly to visit Berlin. str.esemakn’s comfirmation GENEVA', September 18. Herr Stresernann, interviewed, emphasised that a complete agreement had lieen reached on the Franco-Ger man calls for European solidarity, of *\ which the kernnl is complete Franco- 4 German solidarity.” ‘ t * GENEVA, September 18 * After the secret conference, held between M. Briand and Herr Stressman at the little vilage of .Thery, Ilerr Stressman declared: Wo covered tho entire ground and we reached a complete agreement, which it is up to onr Governments to confirm. If this is done, then it will be the beginning of new conversations, first at Paris and then at Berlin. Europe calls for an understanding, and the keystone of the F whole situation will be to-day’s FrancoGerman agreement. ANOTHER. TREATY. GENEVA, Sept. 18. Poland and Jugo-Slnvia have signed a treaty of amity and arbitration on the lines of the Locarno Pact.