the League Assembly Geneva, Sept. 8.
A private conference to-day, attended by the representatives twenty-seven European States, unanimously passed a motion, proposed lby M. Briand, the French Foreign Minister, that his scheme for the Federation of European States should be referred to the Assembly the League of Nations. [Arthur Henderson, the British For ign Secretary, seconded the motion, The meeting was unanimously of opinion that the close collabora: tion of European governments in al national activities was of capital portance for the maintenance of Peace throughout the world. Such collaboration should be carried out in complete agreement. with the HLeague of Nations on the basis of the principles of the League Coven-out, 31. Briand will probably introduce the subject at the Assembly of the League on Thursday, may be recalled that the British reply to the Memorandum submitted by M. Briand on the subject of a leloser' European cal union very sympatheti¢ in tone, but ex: pressed the fear that such new Atitutions might diminish the (efficiency and authority of the League Jof Nations and create tendencies to for-Continental rivalries and hostilities, "It was of opinion that Briand's ideal could be effectively recured by adapting the proposals bring them fully within the frarnework of the League, and suggested that the Memorandum be placed on the agenda of the next Assembly the League.
On August 7 the opinion was expressed that discussion of the French Premier's scheme at the Assembly, of the League was unavoidable since in demanded it and there was general desire to consider the susceptibilities of the League—Reuter.
Geneva, Sept. 8.
A special correspondent of Havas reports that the most important Jdocuments to be submitted, to the! Assembly of the League of Nations is the brochure which M, Briand tent to the representatives of he interested Powers before the opening of the European Conference to-day Jat 4 o'clock. This contained an unofficial report of the French Govers ment on the results of an inquiry nto the scheme for federation. After an analysis of the replies and general observations, the Briand report minutely examines the lations which the European Feder would have with extra-Europei nations, the respect for the sovercignty and equality of the Federated States and the importance of securing meetings of their representtatives, It is believed that the Conference will submit the project Jof the Union to the League of Nations who will immediately discuss the matter. meeting arriving at a rapid on the subject of questions ion of the basis of the scheme which would allow of it being quickly submitted the Assembly of the League of ins. Tu particular he emphasized the following points:—(1) The un-Janimous desire to place the federa. tion under the moral authority of the Lecgve of Nations. (2) The participation in the conference of Staten which are not members of the League. On this question it is important to secure the o fof the League, (3) The British [proposition to submit to the Assembly the whole scheme.
The conference thus able to sketch out the main lines of the programme of wrk—s.RLe.
Geneva, Sept. 8.
Briand today lost the first tussle when at 4 o'clock in the afternoon 23 European Prime Ministers met to discuss his scheme for the creation of a Pan-European Federation. The French statesman fought hard for the debates to be held in public but the majority of those resent decided to hold the meeting behind closed doors, The sole thing allowed to reach the public was a new French memorandum of 142 printed pages and consisting of a reprint of M. Briand's original memorandum and 26 replies received from the various Governments followed by a commentary in which it is emphasized that these replies reveal the importance universally attached to a material and moral ation of Europe, dum ends by oppe the nations of Europe to I Weight on international unity and ferences of opinion on certain points which have not yet been sufficiently threshed out, Meanwhile the chief topic of conversation in League of Nations circles to-day was the composition, of the commission to which the Pan~ Europe scheme will most probably be remitted. The general opinion seems to be in favour of a commis: fon which on the one side would not include representatives. of all the 27 European states but on the other hand would include the representatives of certain extra-'European nations. Among the latter are being most prominently men-ioned Japan, Chile, Peru, New and' India.—Trans-Oceae Kuo Min
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.