COVENANT VIOLATED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 306, 9 October 1935, Page 5

COVENANT VIOLATED.

LEAGUE CONDEMNS ITALY. A UNANIMOUS DECISION. LONDON, October 7. A historic meeting of the League of Nations’ Council this evening was preceded this morning by a meeting of the Committee of Thirteen, which unanimously adopted the report ot the Committee of Six, including tie statement that the Italian Government had resorted to war in disregard of is commitments under tne covenant. ~, .. The report of the Committee of Thirteen and its recommendations that any violation of the covenant should be* brought to an end came before the council and after long speeches by Baron Aloisi and Tecla Hawanat it was unanimously adopted. Ethiopia voted in favour of the report, and Italy against it, hut the votes of the disputants do 'not count under Article Ay. The President of the council then declared that public opinion of the world expected the two parties to accept the appeal of the council to cease hostilities. After the chairman of the Committee of Six had read tlio findings ot the committee, the council adjourned and it is assumed that/fche next development will come with the. meeting of the assembly on Wednesday. There will then be a general discussion, in which the delegates of all countries will have an opportunity to express their views. Afterwards a joint committee of Coordination, representing the council and the assembly, may he set up to decide on further recommendations.

Secret Session of the Council. Before the public session, the council met in private and in secret-r-that is, without even secretaries or experts. The Italian delegate is believed to have requested the postponement of the discussion to permit of a more detailed study of the report of the Committee of Six by the Italian Government. It is understood that this proposal was strongly opposed by Mr RA. Eden (British Minister for League Affairs) who, in conformity with the consistent efforts of the British delegation to avoid all unnecessary delays in procedure, asked for an immediate decision of tlie council. The public session followed soon afterwards. In the meantime, the Italian delegation lodged with the Secretariat a Note contesting the report of the Committee of Six point by point.

The Committee’s Report. The report of the Committee of Six, which Avas unanimously adopted by the Committee of Thirteen, concludes as follows: “After an examination of the facts stated above, the committee has come to the conclusion that the Italian Government resorted to Avar in disregard to its solemn commitments under Article XII. of the covenant of the League of Nations." The report examines the case put foi'Avard by each disputant and the folloAving points are made: “The measures of security taken by a State Avitliin its oavu territory, and not transgressing its international obligations, cannot be invoked by another State as a motive for the violation of tho coA'enant."

The? report recalls the obligations of the parties, assumed under the Kellogg Pact, as Avell as those devolving upon them from membership of the league. With reference to Article XVI. of

the covenant, the report states: “In order that the Article should become applicable, it is not necessary mat a state of war should he formally* declared.” The conclusion of the committee is based principally upon the official communique issued by the Italian Government, an order to the Italian troops to advance into Ethiopia, and the Italian communiques announcing the air bombardment of Adigrat and Adowa.-r-British Official Wireless.