SERIOUS VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1931, Page 9

SERIOUS VIEW

PEESTIGE AT STAKE

BLOW TO DISARMAMENT

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 13th October, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 12th October. The Foi'eign Secretary, Lord Beading, left London yesterday afternoon for Geneva, : rriving there this morning, to attend a special meeting of tho League Council, which will to-morrow consider t 1 Manchuria dispute between China and Japan. Lord Cecil, who was asked by the British Government to be prcsont during tho meeting of the Council, travelled with Lord Beading. The Foreign Secretary's visit to Geneva indicates the importance which the British Government attaches to the action of the League, and other Powors are taking an equally serious view of their responsibilities as Members of the Council. The United States, which is working in close accord with Geneva, will be represented by an observer. "Tho Times" says that the difficulties of the Council have been enchaneed by the conflicting statements communicated to it by both disputants, and it is therefore fortunate that the President of the Council, Seuor Lcrroux, has sent tho Spanish Consul-General at Shanghai to Manchuria, and that tho .United States and British Government havo also sent representatives there to investigate and report. These steps and the decision to oxpedito tho meeting of the Council show that there is no disposition to minimiso the gravity of the situation and the danger of any extension of tho conflict. "The Times" adds the view that in the present conditions of Europe the blow to tho prestige of the League would be the worst possible prelude to the Disarmament Conference and the worst possible disservice to international finance and commerce. Soon after his arrival in Geneva, Lord Eeading held conversations with Mr. Yoshizawa, Japanese delegate to the League. Sir Eric Drutnmond, Secretary-General of too League, attended the conference.