A.—s.

" I think the time has come to make an end of this dangerous propaganda weapon of aggression, that it is time for those to whom the interests of peace are really dear to tell the parrots in high places that nonsense repeated day by day does not cease thereby to be nonsense, that a spade should be called a spade and aggression aggression, with whatever slogan it decorates itself, and that whatever the meaning of anti-communism —be it mineralogical, commercial, strategic, or any other—there is no international justification for aggression, armed intervention, invasion of other States, and breaches of international treaties which it cloaks. The item " Commission of Inquiry for European Union " may be looked upon as a hardy annual which does not flower. The Assembly, on the proposal of its General Committee, passed the following resolution on the 30th September : — " The Assembly— " Having consulted its General Committee on the procedure to be followed with regard to the question appearing 011 the agenda for the session as item 5 (c) (Commission of Inquiry for European Union) : " Notes that circumstances have been such that the Commission has been unable to meet since the last session ; " And decides, such being the case, to renew the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry for European Union for the coming year and to place the question 011 the agenda for the next session of the Assembly." (Document A. 59, 1937, VII.) However, before the motion was actually put to the vote M. Politis (Greece) expressed on behalf of himself and some colleagues the hope that the Commission might be able to meet before the close of the Assembly. I believe the Commission did meet, but as New Zealand is not a member no representative of the Government was present at the meeting. FIRST COMMITTEE: CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL QUESTIONS. New Zealand Delegate : Mr. W. J. Jordan. Substitute : Mr. R. M. Campbell. Rule relating to Convocation of Fourth (Financial) Committee of the Assembly. The Assembly in 1933 authorized the President of the Council to convene the Finance Committee one week or less in advance of the first meeting of the ordinary session of the Assembly. This authority was extended to cover the period up to the end of the Eighteenth Assembly (1937), and, although not so far exercised, it was considered to be one that should still be held in reserve. The intention is to summon the Fourth Committee early if its agenda is so heavy that the proceedings of the Assembly would be delayed if such a course were not taken. On the First Committee's recommendation, the Assembly accordingly resolved that the existing rule be retained for its 1938 and 1939 Sessions (Document A. 43, 1937, V). Position, in regard to their Contributions, of certain States which have withdrawn from Membership of the League of Nations. An important question is involved here. The countries may be divided into two categories, those with whom an arrangement has been made for the payment spread over a number of years of arrears of contributions and those with whom no such arrangement exists but who are in arrears. The countries in question are Honduras, Nicaragua, and Paraguay (Guatemala and Salvador are also involved), and details will be found in Document A. 1 /5, 1937, which is a letter from the Chairman of the Fourth Committee to the Chairman of the First Committee submitting a question raised in the .report of the sub-committee on Contributions. The question was framed as follows : — " The Committee, considering that the case of Paraguay presents certain features requiring the careful consideration of the Assembly, suggests that it would be desirable for the Assembly to examine the question whether, having regard to the terms of Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Covenant, the withdrawal of a State from the League can take effect at the end of the prescribed period of two years' notice if the State has not paid the contributions, including arrears due down to that date, or whether the State continues to belong to the League and to incur liability for additional contributions until it regularizes its financial position." Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Covenant reads : — " Any member of the League may, after two years' notice of its intention so to do, withdraw from the League, provided that all its international obligations and all its obligations under this Covenant shall have been fulfilled at the time of its withdrawal." It is assumed that the payment of contributions towards the expenses of the League of Nations is an international obligation encumbent upon a State member, but if this obligation has not been performed by a State which has given notice to withdraw from the League, and if it is thought that it will not be performed, is that State to be regarded as belonging to the institution after the expiration

7