LEAGUE SENSATION

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 301, 17 September 1934, Page 9

LEAGUE SENSATION

Poland’s Refusal to Co-operate TREATY OBLIGATIONS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 14. At the League of Nations Assembly, when it met this morning, a discussion opened on the announcement made by the Polish Foreign Secretary, Dr. Beck, that polaud refuses any longer to co-operate with international organisations, which are taken to include the organs of the League of Nations, in the matter of supervision over the application by Polaud of a system of minority protection. The declaration created a profound sensation in the Assembly yesterday, where the general impression was that a denunciation of the treaty was taking place. An early speaker at to-day's meeting was the British Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, who recalled that Poland had signed the Minorities Treaty and agreed to article 93 of the Treaty of Versailles. Poland had accepted a certain procedure regarding minorities, it was clear that it should not be possible for any State by unilateral action to relieve herself of her obligations, and he wanted to put that on record as the view of the British Government. Resolutions Binding. Sir John said that the country he represented, together with some other parties, was a signatory of the Polish Minority Treaty iu which Poland accepted the guarantee of the lyeague for the protection of national minorities. The terms of Article 93, of the Versailles Treaty could not be 'overlooked, Poland had further accepted a procedure as to the manner iu which the guarantee was to be exercised. Those resolutions became binding on Poland by reason of her acceptance. No country could possibly release herself from obligations by unilateral action. Str John, after remarking that the effect of Dr. Beck's statement might have been misunderstood, examined his speech iu more detail. Referring to the proposal for making universal the international protection of minorities and the particular position of certain States bound by minority treaties, he pointed out that these two matters were entirely distinct. Regarding the former, a Polish draft resolution on the siibject was already before the Assembly’s political commission. JI. Barthou, French Foreign Jlinister, iu supporting Sir John Simon, said that he sppke as the representative of France, friend and. ally of Poland, and could not believe that Dr. Beck’s speech was intended as a threat or an attempt to impose a fait accompli on the lyeague. Baron Aloisi (Italy) also supported the censure, and, like M. Barthou, admitted the possibility -of treaty revision, but the adaptation must be effected legally and existing engagements respected, until replaced by new provisions. English Press Comment. Poland’s action has provoked some comments in the newspapers. The “Daily Herald," while agreeing that it Is hard to justify the system of supervision in respect of only a small group of States, characterises the action as • reprehensible insofar as it strikes a blow at the sanctity of treaties and the authority of the League. It urges that a serious attempt to make the protection of minorities universal, however, might well be undertaken. The “Jlorning Post” says that the arguments advanced by Polaud to justify release from the treaty are not without some weight, but unilateral repudiation of a solemn covenant cannot but arouse some misgiving. The "Dally Telegraph” says that the demand that the minorities question should be dealt with on a uniform basis for all alike has a very reasonable sound, but the fact is that when the Allied Powers in 1919 set about creating the new Poland there was no way of doing so without including large numbers of Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, and millions'of Jews. The Poles themselves had for generations suffered so severely that the Allied Powers felt constrained to make certain stipulations. These were that the new Poland should not prosecute a policy of assimilation by means of political persecution and should allow minorities freedom of conscience, language and faith. Poland and the Succession States, which have received territories' containing large minorities, agreed to their being placed under the guarantee of the lyeague. The “Telegraph” regards Poland’s action yesterday as only too typical of the impatient spirit of the times, and believes that the World Convention suggested would almost certainly disagree from the start or, if it agreed on a uniform basis for the Succession States, that basis would be more honoured in the breach than in the observance. ATTITUDE MAINTAINED Polish Minister’s Statement Geneva, September 14. Dr. Beck stated that Polaud maintained her attitude regarding minorities. He did not consider the situation changed by to-day’s debate. The Little Entente’s permanent council passed a resolution supporting [he status quo regarding minorities.