THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1928, Page 2

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

SECURITY CONFERENCE. 'Australian et N.Zk Cable Association.) GENEVA, Eeh. 29. An outburst hv the Argentine dele- , gate. Seiior Cantillo on the Monroe Doctrine, was a feature of the resumed Security debate, which Lord Cusheiulen described as the main effort of the i measure. He -said the Yugo-Slavian , representative, M. Markuvitch, argues i that it was because the Convention was 1 too vague, that States turned their eyes to security pacts. They must arrive at some formula, by which the ( effect of the articles of the Convenaut, in relation to security, could he measured or detnnined, Lord Cusheiulen deprecated overloading the Drafting Committee, and said M. Markuvitch wanted something he ■ simply could not have. . The Chilean representative, M. Valdes .Mandeville, expressed the opinion • that it was inadvisable to lay down ■ rigid rules of procedure for times ol crisis. The articles of the covenant formed a connected system ; therefore it was unnnecessary to elaborate them. M. Cantilo supported this viewpoint. He said it was better to leave sufficient latitude on the subject of procedure, to enable the League to meet all emergencies. Then followed the allusion which was afterwards described in the lobbies as a slap in the face for the United States. Article twenty-one of the Covenant refers to regional understandings, like the Monroe Doctrine, for securing the maintenance of peace. M. Cali t ill), in the interests of his tnrical accuracy, protested against tinwording, and said : " As far as I know the .Monroe Doctrine has never been explicitly approved by other American nations. This political principle owes its origin to the days when an Holy Alliance was enunciated as a means ol opposing any attempts at a pedatury policy in the western world. It is not regional understanding in the sense now accepted. It is purely a unilateral de claratiou of principle, having no application to the regional agreements Is ing discussed hero.” The upshot of the debate was that the Committee decided that it was inadvisable to establish a fixed rule b,v which the Council of the League will declare which is Hit* aggressor or de line what constitutes a resort to war. '1 In* Council was left to decide each ease according to the circumstances. It is unofficially stated that topics intuit discussed, include prospects ol Epain’s return to the League, which Sir Austin ( hamherlain is anxious to facilitate; secondly, will the preparatory disarmament commission, due t; meet loth March, he postponed in view of the pending elections ill 1* ranee and Gemmauy ; thirdly, what may he deduced I l orn the reports when the Prepartorv Commission meets. Mr Hugh Gibson will la* America’s representative. A I'N IV FHS AD fit MATY. GENEVA, March I. Germany’s suggestions lor security occupied a two hours’ sitting. Then at length Herr Von Simson admitted that lie regarded the proposals in the nature of a protocol, | wliii li might be open to signature by ! all the I’owers, Ford Cushenden immediatelv opposed a Iresli attempt to revive the idea of a universal treaty. Taking the epigram " Ambiguity is the mother of misunderstanding” as his text, he said the proposals were too vague and pointed out how impossible lit would be to impose an armistice when one of the two nations concerned might he prepared to accept all the odium of being aggressor. History taught them that an armistice could he elfi-eted only when both sides desired il. The Committee decided that the proposal- '•(■ submitted to the various I (on eminent and adjourned tor I"" days. U.S.A. NOTE. WASHINGTON. Feb. 29. The F.S.A. Government’s Note to France is characterised as sharp, and as 'verging at times oil the sarcastic.” Senator Borah’s hand is not seen in this, one ol the most [minted iliplomntlie documents that ever has come out of Mr Kellogg’s olliee. There is a strong expo.. tption, at Washington that after this untie little more will he heard from M.l’riand, and il this is true, il is believed -Mr Kellogg (l .B.A. Secretary) left it on record that he made expansive gesture ol world peace, j wliiuh was ignored. .Mr Kellogg said. " I cannot avoid feeling that if the Government should publicly acknowledge that they can only deal with this ideal in technical spirit, and must insist upon the adoption of reservations impairing true significance of their common endeavour. they would lie in ellvet only recording their importance to the keen I I isn point men! ol mankind in general. Mi- Kellogg takes issue with M. liriand’s contention llmL the I'reach committments under the League <4 Nations stand in the way ol a war outhiwrv treaty, lie points out that, various nations at the recent Pan-American Conference adopted a resolution eon- ‘ cl,'inning war as an instrument, of national policy, despite the fact that they are members ol the League ol Nations.