NO STANDING?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3771, 24 March 1928, Page 3

NO STANDING?

HON. 0. F. NELSON. CAS-E BEFORE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. On the eve of his departure last week-end for England, the Hon. 0. F. Nelson, who was deported from Samoa by order of the Government, stated that he expected to go to Europe and would endeavour to present his case before the league of Nations Council at Geneva early in May.

If he is successful in gaining a hearing for his grievances personally he will be more fortunate than a delegation from Syria, .which sought to be heard and was refused audience eighteen months ago, when the question of private individuals appearing before the Mandates Commission came before the League. The refusal was made at the’ instance of the French representatives, who objected that they would not submit to being judged by the Mandates Commission, which was a body created for the purpose of exercising a general supervisory jurisdiction. Complaints, it Was urged, should be sent through the representatives of the Powers concerned, .and would be considered but to allow persons with a grievance to appear personally would mean that administrative officers would have to be recalled to meet the charges. This decision still stands, and it is stated on good authority that as Mr. Nelson possesses no standing •before the League he will be unable to obtain: personal audience.