12 SEPTEMBER 1924, Page 1

The principal events at this year's Assembly of the League

of Nations at Geneva have been the speeches delivered by Mr. MacDonald and M. Herriot, and the agreed resolution that has resulted from them. Mr. MacDonald's speech, which was delivered on Thursday, the 4th, _ is probably already familiar to most of our readers. Its essential points were that the pacific work of the League must be pressed forward, but that the scheme embodied in the draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance was not the way to do it. Rather the basis of the League must be broadened by every means in our power. " Germany," said Mr. MacDonald, " cannot remain outside the League. We cannot afford to allow her to remain out " .- " The League takes upon itself as its first task the creating once again of the European system, and that European system never will exist until our late enemies have ceased to be our enemies and have come in to take their co-operative part in that system."

Apart from that, the League as it is must clear the ground in preparation for a new Conference on armaments, and it must also re-examine its Covenant and see whether it can be improved in any way, notably to make more specific the optional protocol in regard to arbitration of Article 36. * * * *