Evening star., 1924-09-04
British Premier, Speaking to
Assembly, Asks New Deal
in Europe.
ASSERTS GENEVA BODY
BASIS FOR WORLD PEACE
Says America, Offered Unattractive
Companionship, Has Aided
Old World Always.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
GENEVA. September An his ad-
dress before the fifth assembly of the
League of Nations today the British
prime minister. Mr.. Macdonald, de-
clared that Germany cannot remain
outside of the league.
The best way OF handling the prob
lem of aggression, he said, was to set
up court or courts of arbitration.
Before he began his speech, which
was delivered before a crowded hall,
he conferred with the representatives
of the British dominions, outlining to
them the main issues he would follow.
Premier Macdonald mounted the
rostrum of the assembly at IL O'Clock
to begin his address. amid tremen-
dous applause. all the delegates
standing in their places
During his address he declared that
the British empire would do every
thing in its power to widen the in
fuence and prestige of the League of
Nations.
Sees League Peace Hope.
Through the league. he said. it was
hoped to lay surely and finally the
foundations of peace. The future
happiness of the world must be based
on agreements reached through the
league. Warming against attempting
to base peace upon force, he said:
IF we cannot devise system of
arbitration. then do not let us fool
ourselves that we are going to have
peace
insisting that Great Britain was
intensely interested in the problem of
security, Mr. Macdonald added
But we do not believe that mill
tary alliances can bring security.
Such alliances, like mustard seeds
which finally produce a tree, would
bring the world back to the situation
which existed~-before 1914. Pacts
based on military alliances would
break up the league"
In his reference to Germany'S place
in the league, the British premier
said:
I'VE cannot sit endIessIy with a va
cant chair in our midst. The London
conference created a new relationship
between the rest of Europe and Ger
many. She should have her seat here"
He asked for action along this line
at the present session of the assem-
bly,.
He referred also to Russia's atti-
tude toward the league. The agree
ment reached in London between the
Soviet and Great Britain. he said,~w
the first indication that Russia was
returning to the affairs of Europe and
was headed toward cooperative work
at Geneva.
In another part of his address he
remarked:
Europe for the last few years has
not offered America very attractive
companionship. Yet We have never
a n nrf y,f
thing but that she has always ac-
cepted to do it,
Asks New Arms Farley.
The British prime minister urged
that the time had come to arrange a
new disarmament conference with all
the powers, including Germany, pres
ent. All plans for security, including
the American plan, should be turned
over to special commission, which
would study them all and seek a basis
for the conference, he added.
Mr.. Macdonald said the British
government desired to sign the op-
tional clause of compulsory arbitra-
tion of the Permanent Court Of Inter-
national Justice, but before doing so
it wanted that clause revised by a
commission of experts, which should
inaugurate the work Immediately. He
said nobody seemed to be sure
whether this clause was to be opera
tive both in wartime and peace
time.
Future disarmament conferences
must be held in Europe, Mr.. Mac
Donald thought, in order that the
responsible statesmen might attend
them and not be too far removed
from contact with home affairs.
He concluded by declaring that
Great Britain was committed always
to share in moves for peace.
Great applause from the assemblage
obliged the prime minister to stand
and acknowledge the tribute for some
time before resuming his seat