LEAGUE AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1922, Page 5

LEAGUE AT WORK.

MANDATES IN PACIFIC. CONTROL OF NAURU. POSITION MADE CLEAR. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.-— Copyright. Geneva, September 13. The sub-committee, Dr. Nansen presiding, passed a resolution on Lord Robert Cecil’s motion, Mr. Justice Rich (Australia) and Sir Francis Bell (New Zealand) supporting it, denying the allegations of the Mandates Commission that Britain, Australia and New Zealand reserved to themselves phosphate rights. It is anitcipated there will be another fight when the sub-committee’s report reaches the full committee. Received Sept. 14, 7.50 p.m. Geneva, Sept. 13.

Before passing the resolution, the subcommittee, on Lord Robert Cecil’s suggestion, expressed general approval of the report which M. Theodoli presented to the August meeting, and then proceeded to consider the report paragraph by paragraph. The principal discussion took place on the following paragraph: “The wealth of Nauru consists of rich deposits of phosphates, for the exploitation of which the Governments of Australia, Britain and New Zealand have reserved to themselves exclusive rights.” The sub-committee replied by a motion drafted by Lord Robert Cecil, as the representative of the British delegation, to the effect that the above sentence might lead to misapprehension, and it would be more correct to say, as was explained to the commission in August by the representatives of the three Governments concerned, that these rights had in fact belonged to the British Phosphate Company and had been purchased voluntarily from the company by those Governments.

The sub-committee also resolved that it was inaccurate to say, as M. Theodoli’s report did, that the British Empire had transferred the responsibility for the administration of Nauru to Britain, Australia and New Zealand. It would be more correct to say the British Empire had provided for the administration of Nauru by Australia.

Sir Francis Bell states it is believed the Mandates Commision’s supporters will endeavor to defeat the resolutions when they come before the full committee, and failing that they will continue the fight in the Assembly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS. THE GREAT POWERS FIRST. Received Sept. 14, 7.50 p.m. Geneva, September 13. Lord Robert Cecil informed the Press that Sir M. Sheldon’s motion was based on a misconception. There was nothing to prevent the South American Republics, or any other group of small nations, from forming a pact for a reduction of armaments and guaranteeing each other security. All the resolution declared was that sucn compacts to be successful must be general. It was obvious that if small nations disarmed and other nations did not the small nations would be at the mercy of the big nations. Therefore, it was necessary that the Great Powers should be among the first to disarm.