LEAGUE MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 7

LEAGUE MEETING.

MOVE TO POSTPONE.

Question Of Russian Delegate

Who Presides.

ABSENCE OF M. LITVTNOFF.

British Official Wireless.

(fieceived 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Mav 11

It is understood that negotiations are in train at Geneva for postponement of the meeting- of the League Council, which was to have been held on Monday.

According to rotation it is the turn of the. Russian member to preside, and the Soviet is believed to desire more time to allow its representative to reach Geneva. In the past M. Litvinoff has generally attended, and it is likely that if M. Molotoff, his successor, cannot himself leave Moscow, the Soviet would wish M. Potemkin, who has been visiting Balkan countries, to represent Russia.

It is surmised that the purpose of M. Maisky's call to-day on Viscount Halifax was to solicit Britain's interest in favour of postponement of the meeting. It may be assumed that Britain would be agreeable to a short postponement if it would enable either M. Molotoff or M. Potemkin to come to Geneva.

Tn recent House of Commons replies Mr. Chamberlain has made it clear that Lord Halifax would welcome the opportunity of a personal exchange with M. Molotoff at Geneva, where M. Bonnet will represent France. Such a meeting and conversations at first hand could not fail to be of advantage to that prosecution of negotiations between London, Moscow and Paris on East European security questions which Mr. Chamberlain's statements in the House of Commons have shown it is the desire of Britain to effect.

The Soviet's official organ, the newspaper "Izvestia," according to a Moscowcable, says Russia has maintained and continues to maintain that If Britain and France really want to create a barrier against aggression, then a united front for mutual assistance should be created, primarily embracing Britain, France, Poland and Russia, or at least Britain, France and Russia.

These three bound by a pact for mutual and reciprocal assistance should guarantee other States in Eastern and Central Europe threatened by aggression.

DATE ALTERED.

WEEK'S POSTPONEMENT. (Received 2 p.m.) LOXDOX, May 11. The meeting of the League Council has been provisionally postponed till May 22. VISITS TO ENGLAND. TWO FRENCH POLITICIANS. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, May 11. The French Socialist leader and former Prime Minister, M. Blum, lunched yesterday with Mr. Winston Churchill. Later he saw the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, and in the evening dined with the Leader of the Labour Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, and other members of the Parliamentary Labour party.

The French Foreign Minister. M. Bonnet, will also be on a brief visit to England at the end of this week. He ■will fly to Southampton to deliver a speech there on Saturday, but he will not puss through London; or see any British statesmen. However, on his return to Paris he will probably make contact with Lord Halifax, who will be on his way to Geneva for Mondav's meeting of the League Council.