LEAGUE’S FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 105, 28 January 1938, Page 11

LEAGUE’S FUTURE

More Optimistic Note At Geneva AIR OF DEFEATISM DISSIPATED Thorny Question Settled By Negotiation By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 27, 7.20 p.m.) London, January 27. The Geneva correspondent of “The Tinies” says that to-day’s contacts with statesmen have resulted in a more optimistic not regarding the League’s future. The atmosphere of defeatism has been dissipated, and there is now a distinct feeling that something positive will be done to meet the doubts of smaller nations as to their position within the League. A Geneva message says that the Council of the League, at a short private meeting to-dtry, approved the agenda for its hundredth session. It is understood that one of the thorniest questions, namely, the Alexandretta dispute, has been settled as a result of direct negotiations between France and Turkey. The British delegation, headed oy Mr. Eden, has arrived at Geneva, <r British official wireless message states. An official statement says that Mr. Eden visited M. Chautemps and M. Delbos on their way through Paris. The international situation in all its aspects was reviewed, and the three Ministers found themselves in complete agreement, in their attitude toward questions to be discussed at the League Council meeting. The French High Commissioner, M. Roger Garreau, recently read a proclamation before local dignitaries of the Sanjak (State) of Albxandretta announcing the inauguration of an autonomous Government for that region. . M. Garreau informed the officials that action was being taken under the decision of the League of Nations in May to make the territory self-governing. The .Sanjak is composed of the districts of Antioch, Alexandretta, and Kirikhan in north-western Syria, bordering Turkey. The Saiijak is one of the five “States”, that compose Syria, which France governs under mandate from the League. The High Commissioner said that a committee named by the League had begun work and would organise and control elections for the Parliament of the Sanjak of Alexandretta. Lebanon and the other three States of Syria were to become fully independent iu 1939. The Syrian Legislature had opposed autonomy for Alexandretta. The Sanjak had been the scene of rioting between Arabs and Turks, the latter insisting that the Alex-andretta-Antioch region was “technically purely Turkish.” Turkey had sought the separation of the Sanjak from Syria. Turks in the district are said to number 70,000, Ardbs composing most of the remainder of the 220,000 population.