LEAGUE SECRETARY IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 9

LEAGUE SECRETARY IN LONDON

Conference With Ministers GUEST AT GOVERNMENT LUNCHEON (British Official Wireless.> Rugby, December 11. M. J. A. Avenol, who became Secre-tary-General of the League of Nations this year in succession to Sir Eric Drummond, after ten years’ service as second in command of the Secretariat, reached London yesterday. He was the guest at a Government luncheon given at the House of Commons to-day. Many members of both Houses of Parliament, including several Cabinet Ministers, the President of the Disarmament Conference (Mr. Arthur Henderson), and Lord Cecil, were among those present. After luncheon Sir John Simon, who presided, and M. Avenol had a long conversation. M. Avenol will be the guest of Sir John Simon at luncheon at the House of Commons to-day, and will afterward address members of Parliament in the committee room. Later in the week M. Avenol will meet the Prime Minister and other members of Cabinet. “The Times,” in a leading article, points out that the visit was arranged some months ago, and it is a coincidence that it comes just after the declaration in favour of the reform of the constitution of the League. The paper adds that this subject will no doubt be a topic of discussion during M. Avenel’s visit to London, as it was in Rome. At question time in the House of Commons to-day, the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) stated that in accordance with the suggestion made by the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference the British Government was in communication with various Governments with a view to advancing in every way possible the work which lay before the General Commission. He added that it would not be in the public interest to make any statement at present. Sir John Simon said that no official communication had been received from the Italian Government regarding the question of an alteration in the constitution, powers, or procedure of the League of Nations, and he had no statement to make on the matter at the moment. The matter was receiving most careful attention. HENDERSON’S SPEECH Disarmament Difficulties MEMBERS CRITICAL • (Received December 12, 10.15 p.m.) London, December 12. There is some criticism of the speech made by Mr. Arthur Henderson at M. Avenol’s private meeting with members of the House of Commons. According to members present, Mr. Henderson spoke with vigour, and even passion, about the difficulties the Disarmament Conference had to face. He appeared critical of France, saying she had seven Governments in 21 months, the period of the conference. Mr. Henderson stressed the fact that Germany, though promised equality, was still deprived of opportunities of the redress of her grievances. Germany had been held in subjection by the victorious Powers for 15 /years, with the result that German anger had become an irresistible force. Some members of the House of Commons regard the speech as anti-French and indiscreet. » 1