LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1919, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PRINCIPLES AGREED TC CONTROL OF THE DARDANELLES. Paris, Feb- 6. It is officially announced that the 1 Powers have reached an agreement on the principles underlying the entire constitution of the League of Nations. — Aus.-NZ. Cable A&booParia, Feb. fl. Much pressure is being brought on the United States to become the mandatory to control the Dardanelles and Consiantinplc. Paris, Feb. 5. Tin commission on the League of Na-1 Itfana has not iiaued communiques. It las held lengthy littings and made great nrofreaa with a view to enablitig Presilect Wilson to carry the approved plan {to Awtriw Then in a good deal of discussion out•tdt th* commission as to the effect of 4h« League of Nation*, whether it will Iraptrstdi the Monroe Doctrine or ■treagtiubi it. Many hypothetical questions Hit raised in view of the United States taking mandatory powers over European territory and also *s to vrhether come European Powers might pot find it convenient to interfere in the We*tern Hemisphere. For instance, if the South American nations became embroiled would the league have power to UttigU the ta&k of queiliug the dispute to a given group of nations, including a European country, or would it defer to the United States? The point has interest for Australia, inasmuch a* she may be liable to be callad upon to contribute a quota of soldiers to any little wars of the league in which the interests of the British Empire may not in the least be concerned. On the •titer hand the value of the league in jHTWinting war* may be worth this contribution.. The ' expression of Anterican public opinion reflected in a cablegram from K»w York shows uneasiness as to the course the league is taking. Newspapers give prominence to Mr Taffs demand* for a league with teeth. He pbjpets to mandatories over tlie German •olonies and claims that they should be administered direetiy by the league Hj think« the mandatories are thinly veiled territorial acquisition. If Mr Taft's idea h developed it will not relieve President ■jfc'n»Oß of his present embarrassment avtt mixing Americans up in complicated Near Eastern problems, over which it h suggested he should exercise mandatory power. It is these very doubts as to what power will ultimately be vested in the increased league that makes Mr Hughe; Insi't on an explicit mandatory bei.ig gr.'.lted by the Peace Conference. The League of Nations Societies' Congress has concluded its sittings and ru'i-rmtc-d further resolutions to the Powers It urges that no clause contrary to the principles of President Wilson's fourteen points should be included in the pence treaty; that the league should rorwrnise the importance of education; that ibere should be periodical international Labor conferences of employers Workers for the purpose of keeping ".TiteTiMit'nnal reflations abreast of the times: that the Peace Conference should impose on enemy States in the peace tr»i»tr limitations of armaments and obntrol of their manfactnre in such a wit as to allow States belonging to thi league of Nations to rednce their milti*rr fT''es inwediatdv; that the league should limit the military and naval fiwi of <t< members to a degree comVfttifela with preventing ae?re«si<m by Bon-'memhers, hut the allied State* aho'-M consider their defence sufficiently provided for a considerable period by the arm* and munitions which victory has nla"ed in'their hands: /hat the allied RtMes oti"ht to forhid the sale of arms ind Munitions to countries not members •f the league. "V Ann»n<wn delegates sympathised with the proposals, tint declined to com *»i* themselves on all the points raised They felt that the first step must be In directim of disarming enemy, States; until this is accomplished the' Alli*« must maintain a strong force.— An*.-'N.Z. Ceb'e Assoc. M Veniwlos did not press the Greek I claim to Constantinople nor to the ter- | rttorr bflrder-ine on either side of Ihe Dardanelles, but claimed the Dodecanes Wand* and Oortis Pome form of European lumbforr will probaWv he apnlied tn the Dardanelles.—Aua. N.Z. Caibls 'AnteParis. Feb. 5. Caflrtnission apreed to adopt' as a basis of disenwirm the Tlritich proposals for the establishment of a permanent or pan-' isation for dealing with matters internafinKfillv. At the fir-it- meet'nw of the Financial Commission the Ttslian PT-'Pi-prn'r-r S'?pnr "anra was nomiTintpd president and Mr to examine the protect for a Finsncin! Tci-me of Na-' Hons up hv M. Klotz. French Minister of Finance.—Renter. GUARDTAVsmD or SMALL COUNTRIES. MUST BE ASSUMED BY AMERICA. Received Feb. 7, 8.25 p.m. • Paris, Feb. <5. The American press ajencv savs that the impression is growing that the United States must assume the guardianship of the smaller countries if the league of nations is to accomplish all its purMMs. The big Powers are showing a Deposition to regard America as the o#ly nation which can exercise the mandatory in certain territories without engineering jealousies. President Wilson appreciates that his hardest task will be to convince the American people that the United States mua| undertake such guardianship.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. EULOGISED BY SIR R. BORDEN. Received Feb. 7, 7.35 p.m. Paris. Feb. 5. Sir R. Borden, interviewed, said the British Fmnire was itself a commonwealth of free nations, which affords a certain analogy to the proposed league of nations. The purpose of the league is so compelling and supreme that no thoughtful man can withhold his support from ft.—Aus. NZ. Cable Assoc. - THE DRAFT PLAN- * London. Feb. 5. ■fib Commission's draft plan for » n' Nat'ons contains three thoumhi' iw-ds, comprising a preamble of Ve>' ' two clanses, unsigned, and bears i "ingle title and covenant.—Aus.-N.Z., ' Pkbif Am.