THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1929, Page 6

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

MANDATES’COMMITTEE. REFERENCES DEPRECATED. United Press Association.—Byj Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) GENEVA, September 16. Sir G. Ryrie, in a speech before the Mandates Committee, deprecated the references of certain previous speakers to temporary mandates. He said they might cause great harm. There was inadequate appreciation in many quarters of what the mandates system really implied. For example, the governing of natives of most primitive mentality in such a wide area as New Guinea, was an almost insuperable task, but imperial observers agreed after eight years administration the natives of New Guinea were happy and contented. He paid a tribute to the missions service in New Guinea, which had been instrumental in saving Australia considerable expenses. Ryrie added: “I say as far as New Guinea ,is concenied Australia is fully conversant with its obligations and affairs are soundly administered within the spirit and letter of the Covenant.”

EMPIRE FORMULA SOUGHT. GENEVA, Sept. 16. The outlook for the attempt to find a united form of acceptance of the Optional Clause of The Hague Convention, on behalf of the whole Empire, has changed during the weekend by the act of the Irish Free State in signing the clause unconditionally, subject to the ratification by the Dail juireann. It is understood that South Africa views the matter in a similar /way. Despite the Free State’s action, however, representatives are continuing their consultations, though not very hopefully, aiming at a common form of acceptance.

LAND AND AIR FORCES. LORD' CECIL’S IMPORTANT MOVE GENEVA, Sept. 16. Some stir among the conscript ooiuntries ‘has followed l the circulation of Lord Hugh Cecil’s motion,-’ urging the Preparatory Disarmament Commission to consider lthe limitation of land, sea and. aerial armament material and personnel, including the restriction of the numbers of trainees and the period of training. This involves the thorny question of trained reserves, which France does not welcome, as she thinks that it entails going back on the previous British acceptance, under protest, during the Anglo-French naval discussions, of the French view excluding the;trained reserves. Lord Cecil’s motion is designed to induce a fresh attempt to find t a formula to the approach of the land and air armaments by a similar yardstick to that used in the case of the AngloAmerican naval negotiations.