THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

MOVE TO F*ap ARMENIA;

PRESIDENT WILSON'S OFFER. AUTHORITY NECESSARY^ Bj Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 2, 9~10 p.m. Geneva, Dec. 1. The Council has received President Wilson's offer of personal mediation in Armenia. President Wilson explains that he is not able to offer military or financial aid without the sanction of Congress, and he asks the Council to define how his mediation should be exercised. President Wilson says: "You offered the United States an opportunity of undertaking the humanitarian task of using its good offices to end the Armenian tragedy. This country has repeatedly declared its solicitude for the fate and welfare of Armenia, justifying the president of the League's statement that Armenia has always been of special interest to the American people. I have no authorisation to offer or employ military forces in any project for the relief of Armenia, and any materia] contribution would require the authorisation of Congress, which is not in session. I am willing, upon receiving an assurance of moral and diplomatic support from the principle Powers, and in a spirit of sympathetic response to the Council's request, to proffer my personal services through representatives whom they may designate to end hostilities." Brazil has telegraphed to the League expressing' willingness to contribute singly or jointly to end the Armenian situation. The Commission, on Lord Robert Cecil's motion,, decided unanimously to recommend the admission of Austria. The question of Bulgaria is still -under discussion.

Mr.Milieu (Australia) opposed the latter arguing that a mere change of Government did not necessarily mean a change in spirit on the part of the Bulgarians. The' Council received a telegram that an armistice at Vilna had been signed. Spain offered to help to relieve Ar-menia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Washington, Nov. 30.

J!i\ Henry Morgenthau, former American Ambassador to Turkey, is most prominently mentioned as the representative whom President Wilson will probably choose to mediate between Armenia and the Kemalists.

President Wilson pointed out in his reply to M. Hymans, president of the League of Nations Assembly, that the United States could not' use force in any project for the relief of Armenia without the consent of Cc«gress, which had not yet been conceded. The Pfesident further pointed out that he could not forecast the decision of Congress in any event. •'

A report from Geneva stated that the League was considering the possibility of sending an international army to Armenia, under Major-General Wood. Mr. Baker, Secretary for War, commencing on the report, said the idea was novel, but he did not indicate whether, he approved. State Department officials refused to comment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

IMPORTANCE OF ITS WORK. SEVERAL PROBLEMS SETTLED. THE EXPERIMENT WITH ARMENIA. Received Dec. 2, 9.10' p.m. Geneva, Dec. I. Mr. A. .L Balfour, addressing international journalists, said the work done by the League during the past eleven months showed nothing to be ashamed of. He had heard rumors that the Press I was somewhat disposed to be disappointled with the Assembly debates, as inadequate to the cost of bringing fortytwo nations together. He thought that judgment fair. He did not suppose the debates ever had the brilliancy of the debates of British, French, and other Parliaments. The main obstacle was having to express speeches in two languages. Mr. Balfour said it asked too much of human nature to listen, apparently in interested silence, to speeches of which one could not understand a word.

It was impossible, he said, for the public ever to adequately judge the work of the various commissions, but a body of men never worked harder and more industriously with difficult problems than the members of the commissions. They had to deal with questions which were entirely new, and for which there were no precedents. The hulk of the work of the League was achieved by the Council. The latter must always be more important than the Assembly, for it alone could act promptly when a danger arose. Those who thought the League a fantastic dream of a speculator must re»inember that many questions had arisen which would never have been settled without it. He instanced Danzig, the international »court of justice, and the mandates. You could not work the mandates without the League of Nations, he said. It was wonderful to get a response from North America, Brazil, and Spain to help to settle a tragedy in an obscure corner of the Black Sea. If anyone had suggested such a thing five years ago he would have been regarded as a dreamer, and he would have been a dreamer, but for the League. If the Armenian question f were successfully settled it would be a great triumph for the League.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

CONTROL OF RAW MATERIALS. PREVENTION OF MONOPOLIES. Geneva, Dec. 1. The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian delegates strongly opposed the suggestion by M. Ador (Switzerland) that if a permanent economic council was created it should study the prevention of monopolies in raw materials. France and Italy supjovted the proposal and urged that it was the duty of the League to foster the spirit of international co-operation. The opponents contended that the suggestion created a new economic doctrine, interfering with the freedom of various nations in the disposal of their natural resources. AGREEMENT ABOUT KOVNO. •MANDATES BEING PREPARED. London, Nov. 30. The League of Nations Commission to.eontrol Kovno has arranged an armistice between Lithuania and Zeligaowak!