LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SECURITY POLICY. GENEVA. Sept. 21. The most important step of the present League Assembly was taken when the Third Committee unanimously accepted a security disarmament proposition combining the Dutch. German and French proposals. Tims the contesting viewpoints dealing with arbitration security, the resurrection of tht principles of the Protocol, and the general desire for disarmament, have been reconciled. This omnibus resolution is expected to be accepted by the Assembly without. opposition. Tht most important feature is that the new thesis in no wav conflicts with Sir A. Chamberlain’s out-iHjken refusal to commit the British Empire to any further obligations; but the essential principle underlying the proposition is Sir A. Chamberlain’s own suggestion of September 01 h for the conclusion of regional pacts of security like those of Locarno in manner unanimously. The views nnent thesis underwent a remarkable change in the afternoon. The text of the proposition was available at noon. Its first reading led to strong feeling on the part of British delegates that the Empire would never accept it-, but the speeches of the Third Committee removed the objections as they emphasised its limita-

Al. Ilankerin said the Protocol methods were reconciled by the appointment of a new committee to study the extension of security hy means ot ilisIriefc treaties and arbitration, side by side with the Disarmament Commission’s work.

The last paragraph of the resolution which suggested that the Powers define military, naval and other aid in hypothetical cases of war. seemed at first most objectionable. Debromh Kere. Chairman of the Subcoimnittte, however, dispelled anxiety. He explained it was only a suggestion putforward for consideration. Nobody contemplated a sort of circular letter inquiry. AVith this reassurance, Sir James Parr intimated New Zealand’s acceptance of the whole scheme. A further assurance was given by the Scandinavian countries that the scheme in no way increased the members’ obligations under the covenant. The Third Committte unanimously adopted a resolution embodying the French;' German and Dutch arbitraion security and disarmament proposals.' It provides for, firstly, the creation, side by side with the Preparatory Disarmament Commission, of another Committee whose mission i s to consider measures calculated to aifnrd all States the guarantees for ar-

bitration security necessary, and to fix the level of armaments at the lowest figures; secondly, inviting the League Council to request States to supply information as to what measures they would be prepared to take, and what tones—naval, military and aerial, they would 1;' prepared to employ. in order to support the decisions of Hie Council, i" 1 the event of a conflict breaking out in a given reg-

The Second Committee watered down the motion to carry out the recommendations ol the Economic Conference relating to'tarifis to a milk and water request to Governments favourably to consider them.

In any case, no League motions on tariff questions can bo more than a pious hope, that. States will move in the direction of lower tariff walls. The most important outcome of the debnit was a decision to create a new Permanent Economic Branch of the League, to undertake the important and extensive work resulting from the recommendations of the Conference. It will consist of thirty-five members, representative of industry, finance, and transport, including three irom the International Labour Office.

AT GENEVA. (Received this (iav at 11.0 a.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 22. The Third Committee unanimously adopted the Finnish proposal to ensuie financial assistance to any state that was a victim of aggression. This proposal will also go to a new committee which wili’ study the organisation and security pact of the 1' iiiuisli scheme. From a British viewpoint this is a challenge to the small powers to say what they are willing to do in hard cash to help the victims. The Dominion delegates took a little convincing regarding the last paingraph of yesterday’s formula, suggesting the tabulations of military and naval, but eventually they saw the wisdom of sending the suggestion and now credited to Britain to a new security committee.