LEAGUE COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1927, Page 1

LEAGUE COUNCIL.

IMPORTANT STEP. DRAMATIC DECLARATION. \ (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)! GENEVA, Sept. 11. | Reflections upon events yesterday produce the impression that Dr Strcsemann’s.unconditional acceptance on behalf cf Germany of the optional clause of The Hague Court was by far the most important event of the pro-, sent Assembly. The full significance was hardly realised last night. Dr Stresemann used stage , management. making the declaration as a dramatic climax which was continued in an incidental paragraph of his speech.; The,point was somewhat overlooked, owing to its delivery in .rapid German, which was understood by a few delegates, but to-dav, the announcement is recognised as .a, first step of first-class national importance. This can he interpreted as a first round victory for the opponents of tho two-sided attempt by Poland and Holland to revivify the principles of the Geneva Protocol, but the struggle is not finished. There will he further fights in committee, hut the British circles do not fear that finally there will bo any serious resurrection of the most objectionable features of the protocol ■after the speeches of M. Sokal and Dr Stresemann.

The latter spoke in German, necessitating translations first into French and then into English. He emphasised the fact that the Locarno agreements were not outside the League. Tt was precisely the conclusion of these agreements which had brought Germany into the League. It was incomprehensible that doubts should be expressed whether Locarno covered all the nations concerned, or only some of them. They were practical application in special form of main fundamental ideas of the League. He went on to express the belief that, the solemn declarations of the. nations against war would not be valueless. Among the discordant voices which had recently arisen, were the voices of responsible statesmen, determining to abolish violence and aggression winch would soon give a clear lead. Dr Stresemann concluded with the important announcement that lie intended during the present session to sign on behalf of Germany the optional" clauses of the Court of Arbitration of The Hague. This means compulsory acceptance of the Court’s decision in any dispute between nations who have not signed the optional clauses.

At the tail end of the evening session came Senator Scialoja’s (Italy) address, condemning pessimism concerning tho League’s future, and printing out that the failuro of the Naval Limitation Conference could not he attributed to the League. He expressed the opinion that their mutual protection in Article 10 of tho Covenant was far stronger than 31. Sakai's proposition or any the Assembly could pass, even if it were unanimous that the gap in the Covenant, if any, could not he filled up by a mere commendation or even amendment. All the jurists in the world would not enable the League always to declare which power-to a dispute was the -aggressor. -It fit attempted to solve within two years, problems requiring thirty years, the League would ho going at such a pace that it would break its neck. The Assembly adjourned.

LAST CLOUDS ’REMOVED. PROGRESS OF PRINCIPLE OF ARBITRATION. GENEVA, Sopt. 11. M. Briand in the Assembly declared that Dr Streseniann’s speech had removed the last clouds. France and Germany were now able to meet openly and discuss a most delicate question which had previously seemed inconceivable.

Some people who were seeking to profit from producing conflict and dissension were aiming at a rupture in the League, hut all the members ot the League belonged to a family which was working for universal pence. France more than over favoured obligatory jurisdiction and arbitration. M. Briand asked whether public discussion on disarmament helped the cause of peace, when legislators were busy reorganising military forces. They must consider public feeling. Tt was useless to say that there were no means of security for the execution of recommendations. Nobody expected to reach the goal in one spurt. Tt required an act ot taitli. All must make the same effort. If war broke out, all would be dragged in.

Commending the Polish proposals, M. Briand said that such declarations were not in vain. Indeed, they woie registered by the nations. Transgressors would have to aeeount for themselves before the tribunal .of the world’s conscience. Dr Stresemann s speech was noble and courageous. M. Briand declared that the principle of arbitration was progressing, as was evidenced by Dr Stresemann s acceptance of compulsory arbitration. France bad equally accepted arbitration. The dogs of war had been unleashed in the recent Graeco-Bulgarian conflict, when the League bad ordered a suspension. Both parties had h° n " our ably obeyed. This alone justified the existence of the League. Senator Sir G. Pearce followed with a lengthy speech. He outlined Australia’s attitude, and said that she was most keenly interested in all proposals

making for disarmament and peace. 'He declared that -. the League ■ must not be stampeded into > hasty decisions. Nothing was more likely to lessen confidence in the League than vacillation in pursuit of peace, or the desire to please passing phases of public opinion, or the demand for the sensational and dramatic presence of representatives of ex-enemy ■ nations. All were honestly and sincerely seeking disarmament and peace was a miracle. Referring to the proposals.to reconsider the protocol, ho said * thatl the lack of confidence in* the-protocol had caused serious doubt and misgivings. Australia was inexperienced in internatiopal diplomacy, but she had had practical experience of compulsory arbitration, which was tho main principle of the protocol. 'The term compulsory arbitration itself contemplated ill-will in dispute and force. While ho was not prepared to say that industrial arbitration in Australia had failed, 1m could not say that ft could he classed as iau unqualified success. Tho League’s main aim should not bo tho settlement of disputes, but the prevention of differences developing into disputes requiring intervention, either by the League or by The Hague Court, and tho encouragement of settlements by friendly negotiations, without resorting to the League. Australia felt that the protocol would extend the danger of driving disputants into hostile camps, as industrial arbitration had done in Australia. Let, the League earnestly pursue disarmament by agreement, and success would: come. • POLAND’S INTENTIONS.

NOX-'AG GRFSSIiON PRORGSA L REDRAFTED.

GENEVA, Sept. 10. The agitations and heart burnings of the past few days over Poland’s in-! tcniioiis disappeared at the afternoon session of the League Assembly, when M. Sokal presented the actual resolution . Its wording has undergone many alterations, many jurists of various nationalities having taken a Jiand in drafting, amending, and re-drafting it last night. The form accepted earlier in the day by tho Big Three, Sir Austen Chamberlain,- M. TBriaud and Dr Stresemann, was altered again at the instance of Warsaw by tho inclusion of an appeal to members of tho League to conclude tho pacts of non-aggres-sion which are equally disliked by, Britain and France. The former, as explained previously, disliked them because they might be the beginning of a movement which would eventually enlarge her present obligations, particularly in the event of Russian aggression against some members of the League. A resolution was finally submitted, omitting the appeal for pacts. M. Sokal, head of the Polish delegation. pale with emotion, and speaking with difficulty, offered the following declaration: “The Assembly realising Its solidarity does not intend international immunity, blit it -is inspned by a firm, will io maintain peace, recognising; Dint a war of Aggression must novel serve as a means of settling differences, and - bcßeving that the solemn renunciation of all war will create an atmosphere of general confidence Admirable to the progress of disnrma--niont, the Assembly declares that first of all war is to remain prohibited, secondly all pacific means must he employed for the settlement of disputes, no matter of what nature, arising among the states. Members of the League are under an obligation to conform with these principles The invitation contained in the ■ Her draft to conclude, pacts of nonaggression is climjiiated.