The Council of the League of Nations consists at present of the following members:-
| |
Five Permanent Members: |
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Allemagne |
| |
Empire Britannique |
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France |
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Italie |
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Japan. |
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Nine Non-Permanent Members: |
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Canada |
(1927-30) |
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Cuba (C.A.) |
(1927-30) |
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Espagne |
(1928-31) (re-eligible) |
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Finlande |
(1927-30) |
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Peru (S.A.) |
(1929-32) |
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Perse |
(1928-31) |
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Pologne |
(1929-32) |
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Serb-Croat-Slovak Kingdom |
(1929-32) |
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Venezuela (S.A.) |
(1928-31) |
The retiring non-Permanent Members this year are: Canada, Cuba and Finland. As Norway secured 22 votes at the election in 1929, when the retiring countries were Poland, Roumania and Chile, she stands a good chance - if she goes forward, as she apparently intends to do - of securing a seat this year on the retirement of Finland. The seat which is being vacated by Cuba will almost certainly go to a South or to a Central American State, and this will mean that the Canadian seat will be for competition between the Irish Free State, China and other candidates - in other words, that the Canadian seat will be an open seat, as there is no evidence to indicate that that seat will be regarded as being earmarked, under the group system, for members of the British Commonwealth. Incidentally it may be mentioned that an Irish Free State Delegate in 1926 opposed the group system,1 on the ground that one State had as good a right as another to go forward, and that the group system restricted the choice of the Assembly in their selection of candidates for the Council.
For purposes of representation on the Council, the present chief 'groups' are (1) the Little Entente, composed of 3 States only (Czechoslovakia, Romania and Serb-Croat-Slovene Kingdom, the latter being the present representative); (2) the Scandinavian Group, 3 States (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) - Finland being regarded as the present representative though not actually in this group - and (3) the South and Central American Group consisting of 16 States (whose present representatives are Peru, Venezuela and Cuba). The Baltic States comprising Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are not in the Scandinavian Group, but it is apparent that for practical purposes the representative of one of these groups is held to cover the other.
[matter omitted]
As China is now definitely a candidate for election at the next Assembly, it is clear that that country will be the most serious rival of the Irish Free State, though the fact that China owes the League some 8,000,000 gold francs arrears of subscriptions may tell against her.
So far, the Irish Free State has, through her representatives abroad (and chiefly through Count O'Kelly) canvassed about 45 States, through the representatives of those States in Paris, &c. In addition, we have canvassed the Dominions and Great Britain direct. We have received many promises of personal support from the Ministers of various countries, but the only definite promises of votes are those from the four Dominions and from Columbia, Paraguay, and Salvador. The attached Memorandum 'A' indicates the result of the canvass so far as it has gone.
Statement B attached, shows the countries (3) in respect of which we have as yet received no report.
M E M O. A
Count O'Kelly has approached the following foreign representatives at Paris with reference to our candidature for the Council of the League. The result of the interview is indicated in each case:-
| Name |
Representative of Remarks |
| M. Guetatcheou |
Abyssinia |
Great personal sympathy. Will recommend to his Government. Will probably vote for us. |
| M. Vrio |
Albania |
Personal support promised (28/7/30). |
| M. Grunberger |
Austria |
The Austrian Government replied that 'they would be happy to see the Irish Free State elected to the Council and would not fail to instruct their delegation to the 11th Assembly to support our candidate 'autant que possible'. |
|
Baron Gaiffier d'Hestroy
M. Morfoff Bulgaria
|
Belgium
Bulgaria
|
Promised personal support with his Government. (12/6/30).
Personal sympathy and recommendation to his Government. (24/7/30).
|
| M. Alemparte |
Chili |
Promised his strong support with his Government. Would also communicate with his colleagues in Rome and Berlin who are the Chilean delegates at the League. |
| S.E.M. Kao Lou |
China |
Promised strong support with his Government. Added that China would be candidate and solicited our support. (10/1/30). |
M. Cobo
Chief Delegate to Assembly |
Columbia |
Promised unstinted support (27/7/30). Promised vote (through M. Guerrero) (30/5/30). |
| M. Céspedes |
Cuba |
(see p. 4 also) Promised cordial support with M. Aguero y Bethancourt (Berlin) (29/7/30). |
| M. Bernhoft |
Denmark |
Personal sympathy. Would report to his Govt. (16/1/30). (See also Page 5).2 |
| M. Politis |
Greece |
Said Ireland's candidature would be popular but that a question of principle would arise and there would certainly be a feeling that the seat should not become a Commonwealth seat. Promised to put the case up to his Government. Said Greece would not run unless asked to do so by the Great Powers. |
M. Garcia Godoy
(Chargé) |
Dominican Republic |
Personal support with Government (8/8/30). |
| M. Pusta |
Estonia |
Sympathetic but will probably support China and Norway (16/6/30). |
| M. Numelin (Chargé) |
Finland |
Unstinted personal support. (8/8/30). |
| M. Briand |
France |
M. Briand appeared very sympathetic. Made no definite promise. |
| M. Bellegarde |
Haiti |
Hearty support with Government. (8/8/30). |
| Jonkheer J. Loudon |
Holland |
Personally sympathetic. Would write to his Government. |
M. Troylan Turcios
(Chargé) |
Honduras |
Active personal support (8/8/30). |
| M. Villani |
Hungary |
Said we might take Hungary's vote as a foregone conclusion (15/1/30). (Later (27/3/30) said his Government were reluctant to bind themselves to any course of action so far ahead. M. Villani said that in all probability his Government will support us.) |
| Comte Manzoni |
Italy |
Personally sympathetic. Would refer matter to his Government. (24/6/30). |
| M. Adatci |
Japan |
Would not care to oppose Australia. (This does not, of course, now hold as Australia is not going for seat). |
| M. Kawai (Chargé) |
do. |
Thought that Australia's withdrawal would help. Japan would probably be influenced by British attitude. (13/6/30). |
| M.W. Schumans |
Latvia |
Promised his whole-hearted support. |
Baron de Bogaerde
(Chargé) |
Liberia |
Active support with Government (8/8/30). (See also Mr. Lester's report).3 |
| M. Klimas |
Lithuania |
Strong support with Government (8/8/30). (See Prof. Smiddy's report).4 |
| Acting Chargé d'Affaires |
Luxembourg |
Will represent matter to his Government. Thinks we will be elected (7/8/30). |
| M. Castellon |
Nicaragua |
Personal support with Govt. (7/8/30). |
| Baron de Wedel-Jarlsberg |
Norway |
Promised to refer to his Government. Said Scandinavian group would be in the field for a seat in 1930. (10/1/30). |
| M. Amador (Chargé) |
Panama |
Personal support. Would cable at once to his Government (5/8/30). |
| M. Caballero de Bedoya |
Paraguay |
Formally promised his vote as well as his influence with his South American colleagues. |
| M. Mirza Hussein Khan |
Persia |
Promised strong support with his Government. (10/1/30). |
| Dr. Cornejo |
Peru |
Personal support on sentimental grounds. |
| M. Chlapowski |
Poland |
Promised personal support with his Government. (13/6/30). |
| M. Armando da Gama Ochoa |
Portugal |
Promised personal support with his Government. |
| M. Diamandy |
Romania |
Personal support. Would write to his Government. |
| Dr. Gustavo Guerrero |
Salvador |
Definitely promised his vote. Said Little Entente and South American group work together and he was sure he could get support of the two groups. Promised to communicate with M. Aguero y Bethancourt (Cuban Minister at Berlin) and M. Titulesco (Roumania). |
| Mr. Phya Vijitavongs |
Siam |
Personal support. (See also next page (Mr. Lester)). |
| S. Quiñones de Leon |
Spain |
Promised personal support. |
| Count Ehrensvard |
Sweden |
Lukewarm. 'C'est tout de même curieuse situation que le Commonwealth Brittanique a déjà un siège permanent au Conseil et que maintenant vous en voulez un non-permanent aussi.' (14/1/30). |
| M. Alphonse Dunant |
Switzerland |
Promised personal support with his Government. |
| M. Osusky |
Tchécslovaquie |
Warm personal support with his Government. (24/7/30). |
| M. Guani |
Uruguay |
Promised personal assistance. Later notified that his Government had noted our candidature with most lively sympathy but that definite decision could only be taken in September. (See also Mr. Lester's list). |
| M. Zumeta |
Venezuela |
Personal support on sentimental grounds. Mr. Lester has also learned from Dr. Riddell (Canada) that the Venezuelan representative had stated that Venezuela would probably support the Irish Free State. |
| M. Spalaikovitch |
Yugoslavia |
Promised personal support and support of his Government. |
| ________________ |
| Australia |
- |
Support of Government promised |
(12/4/30) |
| Canada |
- |
do. |
(5/4/30) |
| New Zealand |
- |
do. |
(15/4/30) |
| South Africa |
- |
do. |
(12/4/30) |
Great Britain
Lord Passfield informed Prof. Smiddy that His Majesty's Government in Great Britain would be slow to create the impression in Geneva that it was a party to the formation of groups for the purpose of supporting candidates to Council; they would not commit themselves in advance but would view situation on merits when at Geneva in September next. Said British Government in no way adverse to candidature of Irish Free State.5
Prof. Smiddy, London, approached the following:-
| Sir Atul Chatterjee |
India |
Wrote informally to official in India who handles matters of the League, recommending strongly the support of India for our candidature. (9/4/30). |
| M. Vesmanis |
Latvia |
Ventured the opinion that his Government would support the Irish Free State. (12/5/30). |
| M. Bizauskas |
Lithuania |
Promised that he would urge his Government to support our candidature. (9/4/30). |
Mr. Lester, Geneva, approached:
| M. de Blanck |
Cuba |
Promised personal support with his Government. (11/6/30). |
| Mr Borberg |
Denmark |
Personal support with his Government (4/9/30).6 |
| M. Sottile (Chargé) |
Liberia |
Undertook to see that Liberia gave support. (11/6/30). |
| Prince Varnvaidya |
Siam |
If China secures re-eligibility Siam will vote for China, Norway and South American country. If not, we will get vote. (13/6/30). |
| M. de Castro |
Uruguay |
Would use his influence on our behalf. (30/6/30). |
| M. Sepohbody |
Persia |
'His own friendly attitude to Irish candidature confirmed by Govt. of Teheran'. (4/9/30).7 |
Minister at Berlin approached the following:-
| Herr de Haas |
Germany |
Practically certain Germany would support. (20/6/30). |
| Herr von Bülow |
Germany |
Prof. Binchy got same impression from Herr von Bülow. |
Dr de Aquero
y Bethancourt |
Cuba |
Promised that all his influence would be exercised in favour of our candidature. (22/8/30).8 |
________________
Votes definitely promised up to 4/9/30:-
| Columbia |
Australia |
| Paraguay |
Canada |
| Salvador |
New Zealand |
| South Africa |
'B'
________________
The Countries (4) in respect of which we have no reports so far are the following:-
| *Argentine |
*Guatemala |
| *Bolivie |
Denmark |
________________
*South and Central American States. M. Guerrero (Salvador) promised to obtain the support of these States for Irish candidature. M. Guerro has since stated that all the South American states will vote for us. The Argentine Government do not at present send a delegation to the League Assembly.
