THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1929, Page 6

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

BRITISH LABOUR INFLUENCE

(Per Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

GENEVA, Sept. 1

Everyone is agreed that the tenth League of Nations Assembly will open to-morrow with a greater sense of expectation than for some years. Everywhere it is 'forecasted that it should be one of the most memorable since the League was formed. The chief reason for expecting something much weightier than a routine meeting undoubtedly is the change of Government in Britain.

A REVIEW

MR MACDONALD’S ADDRESS

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 2.

Perhaps as a tilt at the League’s verbosity compared with Locarno and Hague achievements, a French versifier hailed the opening of the 10th. Assembly as the beginning of a “season for great orations on the peace for all time for everyone. The Hague is now nothing more than a cloister.” He facetiously added that The Hague menu including Pudding, John Bull, with New Sauce, and a postscript, “Snowden of Holland will conduct the orchestra.”' As a matter of fact nobody to-day wanted speeches or music overcrowding the. Salle de Reformation which tries to reform everything hut its own appalling ventilation. It was an insufferable spot in one of Geneva’s worst days of fierce moist heat. The conditions were made worse by the glare of arc lamps for taking talking films to supplement the ordinary films, taken at the entrance door, when MacDonald, Henderson and Briand had outstanding welcomes. The formal proceedings were soon over. The, chief event of the day was Mr MacDonald’s mid-day address to International journalists. He said the 1924 Protocol had gone the way of many other instruments, but had been the beginning of a. new spirit of hope among nations, and had paved the way for the Kellogg Pact, in aid of which what had been impossible in 1924, he hoped would be achieved in 1929 in the shape of a: real,.!work for peace. Incidentally lie strongly emphasised that Geneva superseded written negotiations by personal contact. EMPIRE DELEGATION. (Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) GENEVA, _ Sept. 2. Last night a full .meeting .of the Empire delegation was, held. It was cordial and amicable and only incidentally touched oil; ‘ the optional clause postponing the . decision to a further meeting to-day or to-morrow.