THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

GERMANY RENOUNCES TREATY SVHERE IT CONCERNS COLONIES. DOES NOT RECOGNISE MANDATES. By Telegraph.—Pieu Aim Copyright. Received Nov. 21. 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 20. The Australian Press Association sorrespondent at Geneva states it is reported that Germany has Died a iedgthy protest with ' the\ Assembly, :Uiming that the Allies have\ not lived .ip to the clauses of the Tfeaty proriding that the Colonies and the manfetes should be distributed and governid by the League; furthermore, that >he. signed the covenant with the expectation that she would be admitted to the Le«fU«, and would have a part la the distribution of the mandates. Therefore she does not recognise that she is any longer bound by that portion of the Treaty under which she surrendered her Colonies. A number of the. overseas delegates accustomed to their own Parliamentary procedure, and new to European methods, find themselves non-plussed at timle by the Assembly's procedure' in iraftihg provisional rules. They were made expressly elastic to meet as far as fwsslbbj the diverse methods of different nationalities. Bi-iiqgualism, with its attending slowing down of business adds td the newcomers' perplexities. The • fact is the Assembly partakes more of ■ the- nature ef a conference than of a Parliament, and until the commission tompletes the drafting of a set proceiure its emergence from a Congress sondition into 6 proper Parliamentary system eaanot be expected. Already, after two days' experience, lie commissions are beginning to prove unwieldly. With a laudable desire to permit every nation to have representattofl these commissions have resulted in ' Mine having thirty members, lengthentog out their deliberation. Overlapping has also occurred to such an extent that the Assembly decided that next week three commission* shall sit three ■ days and the remainder will meet on alternate days. The sixth commission lias done practically nothing beyond a ' general discussion on armaments, M. Vivian! pointing out that the commis' ,*ioh does not possess sufficiently definite data on which to proceed. The Colonial representatives get somewhat restive at the slowness of progress, but the Assembly is such a new experiment that patience is required to enable it to get into its stride. American circles in Geneva are impressed by the importance of the Assembly. Some leading publicists declare the Idea Of the United States starting »* counter-League is futile in the presence of forty nations assembled in Geneva. It would be wiser for the United States to join the League and assist in moulding its constitution. Mr. Rowell (Canada) resumed the debate on the Council's report. Be said the, success of the League depended on the personnel of the Council of the Alsembly, and uhleßS the natiohs sent their best men the result would be unsatisfactory. The League must justify itself by achievements. He asked whether the Council was composed of a kind of elder statesmen,.or did it represent certain Powers named in the covenant. He believed it occupied the latter position, ind that it submits the policy of those :o other nation* not represented on the Council. "Unless the Conncil gives leadership," w declared, "it must fail. If a reprelentative on it cannot speak absolutely 'or his country he has no right there The Council should be prepared to back ip its decisions in such disputes as that «tween Poland and Lithuania by invoking its economic powers." He recogllsed the difficulties arising of een- ' Juries of conflict and racial animosities. Canadians had shed blood to destroy nilitarism. The League was the most / wpeful experiment devised bv man to *v« the world.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY'S ADMISSION. ANALYSIS OP DELEGATES' VIEWS. London, Nov. 19. The Australian Press correspondent it Geneva reports that the main interest in the Commissions centres round that dealing with admissions to the League, with its bearing on enemy States. An echo of the discussion in the Australian Parliament reached Geneva. As a matter of fact the question of Germany's admission does not arise, because she has not applied to join, but the question may crop up indirectly. Whatever may be decided as to Austria and Bulgaria can scarcely be taken as a precedent. The correspondent says his inquiries ''indicate that there is apparently little feeling against admitting the minor belligerents, but opinion with regard to Germany is more reserved." The correspondent further says: "I learn that the French delegation apprehended a more definite expaession from Lord Robert Cecil, therefore M. Viviani prepared ah outline of the French point of view, but the matter passed. A rough analysis of the opinions of various delegations suggests that M. Viviani will have a substantial majority ' against any proposal for Germany's early admission." Mr. Barnes resumed the debate on the Council's report. He said he believed he reflected the opinion of the working classes of Britain when he declared the former enemy countries should be admitted as soon as possible. Not only did ' he believe this was the opinion of British workers, but alio that of the workers of the world. The industrial instability of Europe was largely due to the peoples being divided into two camps. He assumed that Germany would do her duty under the Peace Treaty, but that was the affair of the Allied Powers, not of the League. The latter's duty was to secure co-operation as would ensure the peace of the world. Mr. Barnes' speech did not arouse any comment from the speakers, who continued the debate. Received Nov. 21, 6.5 p.m. Paris, Nov. 20. The Matin's Geneva correspondent ' says that v in the event of a vote it is ' nrcbable only 'Norway, Holland, and ' » rgentina will support Germany's admission to the League. Over thirty nations nipport France's point of view.—Aus.I.Z. Cable Assn.