SENSATION AT GENEVA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22112, 7 June 1937, Page 9

SENSATION AT GENEVA

Alleged Pressure On N.Z. Delegate CLASH OF VIEWS ON SPAIN MR JORDAN AGAIN DENIES REPORTS (UNITED PBK3B ASSOCUTIOH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 6, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 5. The New .Zealand Government office is upset by Mr Vernon Bartlett's article in the "News-Chron-icle," which, after stating that the principal delegates to the Imperial Conference made clear to the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) that restoration of the prestige of the League of Nations was of vital importance to them, refers to the clash between Mr Eden and the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) at Geneva on May 29. "It is now fairly widely known that Mr Eden brought most unusual pressure to bear upon Mr Jordan in order that he should say nothing which might encourage the Spanish Government or offend Germany or Italy," the article states. "Mr Jordan was impressed by Senor del Vayo's overwhelming evidence of German and Italian contempt for their non-intervention pledges, and ■was about to propose that the problem of Spain should be more or leas transferred from the International , Non-intervention Committee to the League. "Mr Eden dissuaded him from doing anything of the sort, but only by methods which have offended New Zealanders and all other Dominion representatives, who attach importance to the independence guaranteed them by the Statute of Westminster." Mr Jordan, when interviewed by the Australian Associated Press, reiterated his previous denial of any pressure. "I am too jealous of the position of New Zealand in the League of Nations," he said, "to subject it to the undue influence of any other delegate. New Zealand counts as one in the League, as also does the United Kingdom. "Any suggestion that I was swayed by unusual pressure from Mr Eden is absolutely incorrect. It is absurd also to suggest that I or 'other New Zealanders are offended by anything Mr Eden is said to have done."