THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

GERMANY'S ADMISSION.

SPIRITED OPPOSITION OF FRANCE. EFFECTIVE GUARANTEES NECEB- - By Telegraph,—Pre» Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 16, 11.15 p.m. Geneva, Dec. 16. During the general debate in the Assembly, on the report on the admission of new States, Mr. Blankenburg said that South Africa would welcome the earliest admission of all States, including Germany. Mr. Motta, speaking for the admission of Austria, strongly appealed for the admission of Germany, Russia, and America. The League, he said, must be universal, otherwise it would contain the slow but sure germ Of disintegration. ( M. Viviani vigorously replied that the League was the guardian of right? against force. He regretted America's abstention, and said that when Russia came down to the ideas of a great democracy she might receive admission. With respect to, Germany, it was her duty to show she was fit to come in. She must a free government, and be able to give guarantees that she will discharge her financial obligations. Germany might enter the League when she had given that effective guarantee. The League Covenant was meant to give effect to the Peace Treaty, but two years had passed and Germany had not yet given effective guarantees. We did not provoke the war. and if there was anything with which we could be reproached it was that we did not foreBee it. If th» free nations had not stood together for the world's freedom, this • League would not be sitting at Geneva to-day. Lord Robert Cecil moved the admission of Austria, which was agreed to. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INDIANS STATE THEIR CASE. ELECTION OF NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS. Received Dec. 16, 5.5 p.m. Geneva, Dec. .15. The Indian delegates stated their case, but offered no amendment. The committee's report was adopted unaltered. Mr. Barnes pointed out that they did not accept the invitation of the Labor Conference at Washington last year. The election of four non-permanent members of the Council resulted in the election of Spain, with thirty-five votes, Brazil with thirty-three, Belgium with ttfentyfimr, and China with twenty-one. In the third ballot China beat Belgium by one vote, but did not secure a majority in the Assembly. A further vote as between China and Belgium resulted in the latter's victory, but China secured a majority in the fourth ballot over Ron mania and several minor nations.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FIGHT FOR ECONOMY.. EFFECT OF MR. MILLEN'S EFFORTS. London, Dec. 15. Mr. Percy Hunter, Federal Immigration Agent, says that Mr. Millen's remarkable fight at the League of Nations Congress in the cause of economy is recognised by all. The Powers at Geneva were practically dominated by the Finance Commission's sittings for a fortnight. Mr. Millen was insistent that the generally extravagant ideas of the establishment should be remodelled, and though he was naturally faced with considerable opposition from vested "interests, he finally in securing sufficient support to ensure that future budgets shall be rigorously economised. Mr. Milieu-made a great fight against the establishment of several new costly independent commissions, and the Assembly adopted his view, altering the constitution of these bodies from permanent to merely temporary advisory j committees. ' Mr. MillSn's effects will result in saving hundreds of thousands yearly, without impairing the efficiency of the scheme to prevent war, and will also save Australia a very big sum in contributions to the League. Australia is charged on the same rate as France and Britain. Although relief will not be immediate, it will be ultimately attained and made retrospective. OPIUM AND WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC WOMAN DELEGATE'S APPEAL. Geneva, Dec. 15. The committee presented a report on the opium and white slave traffic and. India's claim to representation on Labor organisations as a great industrial country. The committee recommended acquiescence in the desire of the Netherlands that the League should assume the duties hitherto eariied out by her under the Opium Convention, also that signatories to the Convention who are not members of the League should be invited to 'appoint assessors on the League's advisory committee. There was a special invitation to America. The committee unanimously recommended that the League should undertake the obligations with respect to the white slave traffic, but decided that the Assembly was not competent to decide India's claims, the Council alone was competent to decide as to which are the principal industrial Powers. The opium and white slave traflie reports were adopted. The Assembly authorised the secretariat to send a questionaire to all Governments asking what legislative measures had been taken to combat the traffic. An interesting feature of the debate was a speech 'in English by Miss Forchhafhmer, a Danish delegate. She was the first woman to address the Assembly, and appealed to every Government to legislate for the suppression of ai traffic which was a blot on civilisation. I AUSTRIA ADMITTED. London, Dec. 15. Austria has been admitted to the League, Mr. Millen alone declined to vote either way.