LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 11

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION. DRAFT CONVENTION DISCUSSED. (united fre3s association—b7 ewsctbio ixleohapu—coptriqht.) (Received September 21st, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, September 20. Mr J. H. Scullin, addressing the Disarmament Committee at the League of Nations, reaffirmed the faith of the Government and the people of Australia in the aims and achievements of tile League. Many believed that the League was making insufficient progress towards disarmament, "but," he said, "wo must give it duo credit for tho success achieved. While I realico the immense difficulties, both technical and political, facing the proposed Disarmament Conference, we should, nevertheless, be able to look forward to greater progress. The costs of armaments are too heavy a load for people who are burdened already with excessive taxation to meet the colossal cost of the war. Unless civilisation is to stand still, wo must take fuller advantage of the means available of settling international differences by law instead of by war, which is a barbarous method. Mr Scullin's speech was made in the course of a debate on the proposed convention for financially aiding any country which is a victim of aggression. Mr Scullin declared that the Australian Government strongly supported tho principles of tho proposed convention, subject to two conditions: (1) That the provisions should not operate till a general disarmament treaty was signed. (2) That the liability of the guarantors should bo limited to tho share assigned to them in the draft convention. Mr Scullin, in passing, joined in the appeal to the delegates to accept compromises in the wording of the convention in order to obtain general ratification.