A LOST CAUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1938, Page 7

A LOST CAUSE.

SILASSIE'S VAIN PLEA.

No Resolution, But British View Declared Approved. LEAGUE'S "SADDEST DEBATE."

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

GENEVA, May 12

M. Munters, presiding, in declaring the debate on Abyssinia closed, said the majority of the Council favoured the British viewpoint. No resolution was submitted.

After the adjournment, the delegates agreed that the debate was one of the saddest in the history of the League.

During the speech by Viscount Halifax, Haile Silassie sat motionless with his eyes closed. At the end he rose slowly and said: "Although recovering from an illness, 1 decided to appear personally befo;. the Council to defend my people's cause." He then asked permission for Taezez, one of his delegates, to read his speech.

In the address the ex-Emperor declared that, although victims of aggression, they put their confidence in the League, but they had the misfortune of seeing the nations refuse to honour their commitments and treaties of nonaggression. The League Covenant had been torn up by powerful nations, who simultaneously proclaimed their attachment to the Covenant. Recognition No Aid to Appeasement. Haile Silassie rejected Lord Halifax's contention that recognition of the Italian conquest would help in appeasement. He said the League had to choose between the maintenance of peace by law and peace at any price. Jsritain was asking the Council to tear up instruments that had been designed to protect small States.

The speech cited various provinces where the Italians were not in control, and dramatically denied the right of the Council to decide the question, demanding a meeting of the League Assembly.

Replying directly to Lord Halifax, the ex-Emperor's speech declared it was completely contrary to the Covenant to sacrifice one people to assure the tranquillity of others.

"It appears the nations are violating their commitments with the object of currying favour with Italy, who in spite of her enormous expenditure is unable to exploit Abyssinia," he said. Fight Till Exterminated. "Abyssinia will accept any just settlement proposed by the League, but if ray appeal is not answered, implacable guerilla warfare will continue against Italy until either the Italians evacuate the country or the Abyssinian people are exterminated."

In contrast to their usual listlessness, members of the Council listened to the Abvssinians with the closest attention and watched the ex-Emperor intently.

Dr. Wellington Koo (China), deprecated the use of force in the settlement of international crises. China did not subscribe to Britain's proposals.

M. Petrescu Comnen (Rumania), on behalf of the I/ittle Entente (Rumania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavial supported Britain and France.

A delegate from an East European country was heard to say: "I do not know whether to laugh, cry or be sick. I think I am going to be sick."

M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, said he supported the British initiative because he was convinced that all possible had been done. He agreed that in order to re-establish confidence in Europe it was necessary to face facts.

M. Litvinoff (Russia) said: "Britain has a right to settle the Abyssinian affair for herself, but the League as a collective body lias not withdrawn its condemnation of the aggressor. Nothing will so weaken international law as to recognise his conquest. There is no reason for the League's existence if it neglects its own principles." The ex-Emperor walked out slowly, bowing imperceptibly to his left and right. The others stood aside to give him free exit. NO POLICY CHANGE. U.S. Refuses to Sanction Force Or Treaty Violation. STATEMENT BT MR. HULL. (Received 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 12. In response t* questions at a Press conference as to whether a change in national policy was contemplated in view of the League of Xatione' debate regarding Ethiopia, the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, said that the United States stands squarely upon its' policy of refusal to recognise territory gained by force or violation of existing treaties. "DANGEROUS ORGAN." FRENCH PRESS ON GENEVA. PARIS, May 12. The French Press is critical of the tactics at Geneva. The newspaper "'Figaro" asks: "Why has Haile Silassie come, if not to embarrass Viscount Halifax and M. Bonnet? Geneva to-day is not only a useless organ, but a dangerous one where internal policies subversively combine to paralyse diplomacy."