Sie Austen said the question was essentially one for common cussion and a solution which woul be the outcome of the interchange of ideas and the free play of thought, but membership of the Council should be kept within manageable bounds. Tt was equally important that the Council should be sufficient. ly' numerous to make it fairly representative of the whole body of States in the League, but the me crease of permanent seats must be scrupulously examined. He said that Britain had not "taken the position that it was impossible to increase permanent seats except on the entry of Germany, the United States or Russia, He' recalled a private meeting of the Council four years ago, at which Britain had Supported the claim of Spain, He saw nothing that had happened since tien £0 make the Government. Jehange its attitude regarding that claim in principle, (Opposition cries of "Oh!") though the time when the claim should be pressed was a different question with which was not dealing now dwelt on the merits of me creasing the non-permanent seats and proceeded to refer to the jealousy with which viermanent ad-'Gitions ought to be made. But he reiterated that they were not pro= pared to say w prion that no such claim could be admitted in any wireunsat whatever,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.