THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

VOTES OF THE DOMINIONS. NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 23. The following statement has been made by the Prime Minister in answer to a question as to the attitude of the Government in regard to the objection of America to the position given to the overseas Dominions in the League of Nations:—

"I could not possibly agree to any suggestion that New Zealand should give up its right to take part in the League of Nations as a Dominion of the British Empire and as provided in Article One of the Covenant and an annex to the latter. On the contrary, I am confident that New Zealand will stand with Canada and insist, on quinationhoods as Dominions continuing to be recognised. "Although \vc have always had nationhood within the Empire, we have to think of the future rather than of the present, and if we give away our rights and privileges now or consent to important reservations on the part of other members of the League, then a time will eome when the citizens of (he overseas countries of the Empire will blame us, and very properly, for our want of foresight. "I had hoped, and hope still, to see the Anglo-Saxon nations unite for the preservation of peace, though recent indications in the United States are not encouraging.

"In counedtion with the difficulty which lias arisen, it is well to remember the first, paragraph of Article n, which is as follows:-—'Except whore otherwise expressly provided in this covenant by the terms of this present Treaty decisions at any meetings of the Assembly or of the Council shall require the agreement of all members of the League represented at the meeting' "This simply means that in all important matters there must be unanimity, though so far as the Council is concerned there is very little prospect of any representatives of the British dominions being permanently appointed to it."