THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

ACTION IN ARMENIA. BRITAIN SUPPORTS AMERICA. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LEAGUE. »j T«i«gr«*.—Pt«s» Asm.—Copyright: Received Nov. 5, 5.5 p.m. * London, Dec. 3. The Australian Press Association correspondent at Geneva states it is hoped to have all the commission reports before the Assembly" by the early part of next week. Lord Curzon has telegraphed to M. Hymans stating that while unable to take independent action In Armenia, Britain ib willing to second President Wilson's action with moral and diplomatic support. The report of the first commission on the relations between the Council and the Assembly states that there is no analogy between the upper and the lower chamber, and therefore, the League is a single organism, having at its disposal two onanisms with distinct or Bimilar attributes. The Council derives its clearly-defined functions from the peace treaties, while both, the Council and the Assembly have, distinctive duties. There are matters the decision of which is left* to the League without specifying to which the right of decision belongs, and there are "also matters not within the competence of these organs, but which require the concurrence of the Governments concerned in the form of international conventions. The ; Assembly, in regard to the latter, should endeavor to lead up to an agreement between Governments. The commission considers it inopportune to foryulate the precise functions of the Assembly and the Council, but difficulties arising between them should be dealt with according to the dictates of tact and common-sense. '

Contributions to the League have been practically settled on a basis of the Postal Union. Mr. Millen (Australia), in an interview, states he placed an amendment on record against the secretariat's proposal to base on population and nett revenue, which, though not providing a precise formula, did give relief to some countries like Australia, whose present payments were inequitable, but it raised countries like Brazil and New Zealand. He so strongly protested that it was decided to maintain the present system until the committee could deal with the whole question.— Aus.-N.15. Cable Assn;

AMENDING THE COVENANT. REPORT FOR NEXT SESSION. Geneva, Dec. 2. The Assembly resumed its deliber. ations. The President proposed to 9end messages expressing the Assembly's thanks for the response, with regard to Armenia. Lord Robert Cecil desired to thank M. Viviani, whose eloquence and support led to action being taken,'and to the Press for the world-wide publicity given to the appeal. Mr. Balfour submitted a report on amendments to the Covenant, and. explained it was not because the Covenant was incapable of amendment, nor because the Scandinavian amendments were not worthy of most careful consideration. The Commission had two motives, firstly the objection to change in the Treaty of Versailles with which the Covenant was embodied; secondly, the League was as yet very young, and ought to gain more experience before making alterations. He moved that the Council appoint a committee to consider the Scandinavian amendments and report next session.

A Portuguese delegate reminded the Assembly that the Covenant was drafted by the victorious countries, and should be modified to suit other countries. Portugal desired to Bitbrait an amendment, but he agreed with the proposed delay until next session. M. Motta (Switzerland;) said it was inadmissible to concede that the Covenant was bound up with the Versailles Treaty. It contained a provision for its own revision. He admitted that neutrals were invited to participate in the drafting of the Covenant, but their non-acceptance should not prevent amendments now.

M. Bourgeois pointed out that there many things in the Covenant that did affect the Treaty, but there were matters in the Covenant which were bound up with the_ Treaty, namely, certain guarantees demanded as a condition of admission into the League. On the motion being put, the first note of discord came from Argentina, which objected to the Assembly not discussing the amendments. The President declared the motion adopted, Argentina dissenting. During the preliminary discussions on the budget, Mr. Collins (Australia) took exception to 38 officers receiving I salaries of £IOOO and upwards, and 48 from £SOO to £IOOO out of a total of 185 employees.

A notable feature of the Assembly's sittings has been the large attendance of the public. The galleries have always been crowded.—Aus.-N\Z. Cable Assn.

POSITION OP SMALL STATES. Geneva, Dec. 3. The first commission recommends the admission of Cost* Rica, but does not recommend tne admission of Azerbaijan and the Ukraine. The Lichenstein Commission favorably entertain the Swiss proposition in the direction of establishing certain relations between the League and those States considered too small for full mem-bership.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

[Lichenstein, a small area in Bavaria, has a population of 7880.]