THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1929, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

THE MANDATES. WHAT DO THEY MEAN ? ' United Press Association.—By Electrio leiegrapn.—Copyright.) GENEVA, Sept. 18. At a meeting of the Sixth Committee Sir Janies Parr (New Zealand) supported the Chairman’s views that the expression “Sovereignty” as applied to the South West African Mandate should he eliminated. He added that this expression was academic. He expressed the opinion that both the terms “Sovereignty” and “Temporary” should be wiped out.

The Italian delegate, also Messrs Riddell (Canada) and T.ouw (South Africa) agreed. The Committee adopted the Mandates report.

AT GENEVA. LORD CECIL’S DESIRES. i i (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 19. \ At Geneva, Viscount Cecil encountered opposition when he reopened controversial subjects at a meeting of the League’s disarmament Commission. Lord Cecil desired the Commission to consider limitations of materials, persons, trained reserves, army and navy budgets and also international control enforcement of the disarmament treaty. He enipassionedly stated. if the draft treaty includes no reduction of limitation material, we are presenting a hungering world not with bread, but with a stone, something also of almost unpractical value. There was no question of compulsion. The work must be done in collaboration and co-op-eration. If any Power were unprepared to take a substantial step, then there were others who would only submit that this might be the end of the disarmament scheme, which was the only direct positive safeguard against war as it is the cornerstone of the edifice of peace.

OPTIONAL CLAUSE SIGNATURES,

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) GENEVA, September 19. Britain, New Zealand, South Africa, and India have signed the optional clause. In the absence of instructions from their Governments the delegates from Australia and Canada did not sign.

A NOTABLE .CEREMONY. (Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) GENEVA, September 19. The Optional Clause was signed in the large glass hall, in which the Council meet. At the last moment Sir G. Ryrie (Australia) and Zandurnnd (Canada) were unable to join Henderson, Parr, Habidaillah, and Louw, who signed respectively. Sir G. Ryrie declared that owing to the political crisis in Australia, he had not received definite instructions from the Government and therefore he was unable to sign to-day.

Daridurand announced that he was still without authority from his Government.

Mr A. - Henderson, before signing, claimed this > was another important contribution towards world peace. He referred to the exclusion of inter-Em-pire disputes. Sir James Parr merely repeated Mr Henderson’s declaration in identical terms and then the signing took place. France, Czecho-Slovakia, and Peru also signed. The ceremony was photographed. ,