BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18854, 21 June 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. BASIS OF THE MANDATES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June 17. In the House of Commons, speaking on the League of Nations, Mr Asquith said that he hoped the victorious powers would not be plow to set an example as regards disarmament. He asked whether the Polish aggression did not come within Article Eteven, whether the mandate for Palestine come from the League and he asked similarly regarding Mesopotamia. He urged the winding up of the Supreme Council in order to let the League become a reality. Lord Robert Cecil declared that the lack of formal decision regarding the mandate by America was producing very' deplorable conditions. lie urged that all these matters should he settled at the earliest moment. There was no room for two supreme international bodies such as the Supreme Council and the Council of the League. In regard to America, it was difficult for members to discuss the position freely in the House, but he was sure that nothing would encourage their friends in America more than to be able to argue with them that as the League had accomplished so much in the preservation of pence it was undesirable that they should stand aside in the great work. Mr C lfour re', "ring to the question of mandates said that the terms of the mandates were to be determined by the Peace Conference, but the use to which the mandates should be put was left to the League of Nations. That was .-etrled at Paris, consequently it was regrettable that the mandates were net ready. He would not say that it. was a matter for the League to be blamed, for it was due to the fact that the negotiations had taken a longer time than was anticipated. The League would come in when the mandatory powers accepted the responsibility for carrying out the mandates.

USE OF INTERNATIONAL POLICE.

BRITISH MINISTER’S COMMENT

LONDON, Juno IS (Received June 25, 5.5 p.m.i

Representatives of the League in favour of abolishing war waited in a deputation on Mr Lloyd George, Mr Balfour and Lord Curzon. The Premier catechised the deputation. endeavouring to pin them to details with a view to demonstrating the impracticahleness of the proposal. The Premier said that the Great Powers were already too entangled to supply forces to create an International police. Moreover, a discussion in that connection was idle until America came into the League. Mr Balfour inquired whore the proposed forces were to he kept, in St. Helena or Labrador, for if they were kept in Fran-e they could not fight France am; if they were kept in Britain they certainly could tot fight Britain. The Premier emphasised the point that ■my present attempt to force peace would only destroy the League. EMPIRE PROBLEMS. LORD MILNER’S STATEMENT. LONDON, June 17. Lord Charnwood, in the House of Lords, drew attention to the necessity for devising machinery to ensure continuous ronsultmg between parts of the Empire in regard to mportant Imperial and international questions.

Lord Milner, replying, emphasised that ■here was no occasion for any nervousness that proposals would be made in Britain chat a different government of the Empire hould he brought in as a new form of subertion. Tie said that the time was long oast when such an impression could reasonably be entertained by even the most nervous of Dominion statesmen. Britain gladly accepted tile position that there was no kind of authority in pracricc, whatever might be the theory of th" constitution, that the Parliament and peoples of the Ended Kingdom claimed any longer to rxercise over ■he Parliaments and peoples of the Dominions.

MEAT CRISIS

BUTCHERS THEATEN STRIKE. DEMAND ABOLITION OF CONTROL. LONDON. June 19. (Received June 20, 11. A p.m. i The butcher? threaten to strike with a view to forcing the Government to act so •is to reheve the present unsatisfactory neat situet.on. Prominent hut.-hers declare '.hat there is a shortage of pood meat throughout the kingdom anti the public is exasperated at receiving inferior qualities of long-stored meat, chiefly South African and New Zealand. The difficulty is accentuated by British farmer? holding stock back from ■ ales, honing for n rNe in prices after /he removal of Government control, London butchers at a mass meeting on Monday will tonrider a resolution demanding that all meat, both imported and home-killed, he freed from control.

THE VICTORIA CROSS. NURSES AND CIVILIANS NOW ELIGIBLE. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20, A.5 p.m.i A new warrant relating to the Victoria Gross extends eligibility to the female nur .--inp service and also to civilians of either sex regularly or tcmjHiranly under order* with the forces. THE KING’S PARTY. LONDON, June 19. (Received June L’O, A.A p.m.i The King is giving an afternoon party on June 2A at Buckingham Palace to the winners of the Victoria Cross, their wives and mothers, also the nearest relatives of V.C.’s who did not survive. EMPIRE SHIPPING PROBLEM. COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY. LONDON, June 18. (Received June 20, A.A p.m.i Mr Lloyd George has appointed an Imperial Shipping Committee to inquire into the whole question of shipping communication between the different parts of the Empire with a view to an improvement. Mr H. J. Mackinder, M.P., is chairman, and all the Dominion Governments have nominated their own representatives. New Zealand will be represented by the High Commissioner.