LEAGUE COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 16

LEAGUE COUNCIL

PART PLAYED BY DOMINION POSITION OF ABYSSINIA (From a Special Correspondent.) GENEVA, May 24. The Council of the League of Nations held its ninth meeting at 5 o’clock today in private session. The High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) and the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) represented New Zealand. At the opening public meeting of the Council Mr Armstrong represented New Zealand, sitting between the representative of China (Dr Wellington Koo) and the representative from Rumania. It will bo remembered that the Council of the League is the executive body. It consists of four permanent members —the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and tho U.S.S.R.-—and 11 members elected for a term of three years. Usually the Council meets four times a year. New Zealand was elected a member in 1936, and thus has great responsibilities. Tho United States, which is not a member of the League, keeps observers and a secretariat at Geneva, so that the American Government may be closely informed of what is happening. Each country represented on the Council has office accommodation at the new League building, but the New Zealand section is occupied only when the Council meets. It will be noted that New Zealand has no secretariat or permanent representative at Geneva to assist with the New Zealand share of the Council’s work. At present the work is done by the High Commissioner and members of his staff in London. Finland, South Africa, Irish Free State, and Canada all maintain a representative in Geneva, although these countries are not on the Council of the League. One of the chief items of interest and discussion in the capitals of Europe was whether Abyssinia would come to Geneva for the Assembly, which is the meeting of all the nations. The New Zealand delegates are Mr Jordan and Mr Armstrong, with-Dr W. B. Sutch assistant.

One newspaper in Geneva stated that the Swiss Government was planning not to allow the Abyssinians across the border, because they would not have valid passports. It should be noted that Switzerland has recognised the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. In any case, it was known in advance that Poland would object if Abyssinia were allowed to take a seat. Before the Assembly starts serious work the credentials of all its members have to be examined. This work is entrusted to a Credentials Committee. At the Iqst Assembly, the Credentials Committee had to make a vital decision as to whether Abyssinia still possessed credentials. Now Zealand was elected to_ this committee. After a prolonged discussion tho committee reported that Abyssinia should be given the benefit of any doubt there might be.

It is known that Mr Jordan, the New Zealand representative, has been very prominent in championing the cause of Abyssinia, and upholding the Covenant of the League. Public meetings in London, preceding the present Assembly, passed resolutions in appreciation of New Zealand’s action. But dn other circles the question was asked whether New Zealand would again be appointed to the Credentials Committee in view of the consistent attitude which, the Dominion was known to take.

At the last moment, however, Haille Selassie stated that Abyssinia would not be represented at the Assembly this time. The Credentials Committee did not, therefore, have the task of passing on Abyssinia’s credentials. But it may be significant that Mr Jordan was again appointed to this committee. Furthermore, the attitude of the committee may bo judged by the’fact that it appointed him vice-chairman. When the committee made its report to the Assembly on the credentials of delegates no reference was made to Abyssinia, since that country as well as Italy and Nicaragua, not having attended the conference, had presented no credentials. Nevertheless, the representative of Poland raised the matter in the Assembly, saying that his Government would recognise the de facto situation, being realists. The Mexican delegate hastened to niake clear the position of his Government—that _ it would not be a party to any action which deprived a- League member of its rights. No further discussion took place. So the position of Abyssinia has still to be settled.