THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1928, Page 3

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

LEAGUE HAPPENINGS. Australian Press Assn.—United Service (Received this day at 8 a.m.) GENSVA, September 11. China did not obtain a vote for reeligibility in the Council seat. She required thirty-four and polled twentyseven, while twenty-three voted against. GENEVA, September 10.

With round calls between the Big Five completed the next step in the Rhineland discussion rests with Herr Mueller, who has been asked—What’s your plan? Remembering the high hopes of the Thoiry conversations in 1920 and its abandonment then, the proposal to commercialise the Dawes payment into German railway bonds as a security, it is surprising that the same idea should be held in France’s mind to-day, because the. same difficulties arise as in 1926.

For instance there is a doubt whether there is sufficient liquid capital to absorb the bonds. There is a ifeeling among high-placed persons that if M. Brinnd had a freo hand it might be easier to adjust the Rhineland, but he is subject to M. Poincare’s security complex, backed with a, similar strong French mentality. Likewise there is a feeling that with only a few months to go to evacuate the second Rhino zone a liberal L'’j^n^-ges,f l he risked 'Mh i ■ ■'

GENEVA, Sptcmbor 10. "Spain is certain of a European nonpermanent sent on the Council and Venezula, the South American 3eat. The rejection of China leaves Assam the choice of Persia and Siam.

LEAGUE ELECTION. 'Received this dav at 9.30 a.m.) GENEVA, September 10. The election for three non-perman-ent seats on the Council for which 26 is an absolute majority, resulted : —■ Spain . 46; Persia 40 Venezuela 55. Siam polled only 6. M. Briand participated in the Assembly’s general discussion. His speech which lasted ninety minutes was delivered with his usual vigor and eloquence and terminated with the customary fervent 1 reception from representatives of Latin America and those of the Little Entente. He said the League had already prevented a number of open conflicts. Without the League there would have been no Locarno nor Paris pact. He described the Russian proposal o*f general total disarmament as a theatrical gesture. Herr Mueller had said that as long as Germany was disarmed everybody could disarm, but, added M. Briand, we similar]}’ looked at this problem ten years ago. To-day it is more complex. 1 am sure Mueller will not say Geimany is completely disarmed. Peace can be only permanently established when there .js a real international understanding. M. BRIAND’S SPEECH. GENEVA, September 10.

M. Briand, referring to the AngloFrench compromise said that nobody was satisfied therewith. There was little hope under these conditions that the Preparatory Committee would have any better fortune and thus render a disarmament conference possible People said the compromise contained secret clauses. It was a simple agreement to help naval disarmament,