AIR OF DEJECTION

Evening Post, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 9

AIR OF DEJECTION

MR. TE WATER'S

SPEECH

HUMILIATION OF DELEGATES

LONDON-, July 2. Messages received in London state that such an atmosphere of dejection has seldom overhung Geneva. The humiliation of delegates was intensified by the speech of Mr. C. te Water j (South Africa), in opposing the raising of sanctions. The speech created a very deep impression. The "Morning Post's" Geneva cor-j j respondent declares that few speeches | have so moved the Assembly, especially because of its passionate sincerity. I Mr. Vernon Bartlelt, in the "NewsI Chronicle," considers that no such j J open criticism of the great Powers has been heard .since the days of Nansen. Delegates shuffled uncomfortably when Mr. te Water, with effective irony, contrasted Sir Samuel Hoare's proud lead in September with the powerlessness of 50 nations to protect the weakest among them. He declared that there must come a time in international relations when resignation would be insufficient, and they must have courage to act. The only gleam of humour since the Assembly opened came from M. Lit-jvinoff-(Russia), who suggested that the ■ League was not invented merely to make the world safe for aggressors. | It is generally agreed that Mr. ] Eden performed a difficult task with dignified resignation.. He did not attempt to conceal his own humiliation ond that of the League. Mr. Eden was the only delegate who expressed symj pathy with the Emperor. LISTLESS GALLERIES. The depression communicated itself ;lo the galleries, which' were listless j and half empty when Mr. Bruce opened I this morning's deliberations. Mr. Bruce declared that the question before the Assembly was whether sanctions should be lifted, maintained, or increased. The grave responsibility of answering was increased by the fundamental questions involved. Those advocating maintenance of. or an increase in, sanctions believed this was necessary to preserve the League, also respect for international law, but if sanctions had not prevented the conquest of Abyssinia in a reasonable time it would be necessary to impose new and more far-reaching sanctions which might lead to armed reaction by Italy It was doubtful whether the nations were prepared to moot armed force with armed force. The Commonwealth of Australia considered that sanctions should be lifted, but desired to cooperate in a review of the system of collective security in September to insure an effective system' of international co-operation. "Isn't it fairer to Abyssinia to declare ourselves to her, now?" he asked. "Haven't we misled that unfortunate nation Ion" enough " ° Mr Bruce added that experience had shown that the imposition of economic and financial sanctions limited to those not provoking retaliatory action had been futile and ineffective but the devotion of nations lo the League was insufficiently great to commit their peoples to a war not affecting their immediate national interests Last autumn," he declared, "a new hope came to millions that collective security was a reality, and. that the collective judgment of nations would insure justice. Today that hope is extinguished. Our task is to rekindle it and insure its realisation."