LEAGUE COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22954, 11 May 1938, Page 9

LEAGUE COUNCIL

ANGLO-ITALIAN PACT DISCUSSED RUSSIAN DELEGATE RESERVES JUDGMENT Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, May 10, (Received May 11, at 10 a.m.) Lord Halifax, in a statement to the League Council regarding the AngloItalian pact, declared it was a contribution to world peace, thereby serving League interests. M. Bonnet said he and M. Daladier were satisfied with the value of the agreement, and hoped that a favourable Franco-Italian understanding would further the cause of peace. M. Litvinoff declared that in view of the pact’s important repercussions on world problems, including Abyssinia, he reserved judgment.

The Council, after hearing Dx; Wellington Koo, adjourned at 5. PEACE VALUE OF PACT STRESSED LORD HALIFAX EXPLAINS POSITION. (British Official Wireless.)' RUGBY, May 10. (Received May 11, at noon.) When to-day’s session of the League Council opened at Geneva Lord Halifax made a statement on the Anglo-Italian agreement. He would, not, he said, embark on a detailed analysis of the agreement, or on the history of AngloItalian relations during the few years following upon Italian action in Ethiopia. “ The general result has been,” he said, “ to produce a regrettable state of tension between the two countries, which reflected itself not only upon our mutual relations, but over a much wider field. Particularly was this so in the Mediterranean area, where it is true that if the relations between Italy and the United Kingdom are strained the sense of security of many nations is impaired. It is not only, therefore, to their own specific interests, which rim parallel through the Mediterranean and down the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, but to the advantage also of many other countries that His Majesty’s Government and the Italian Government should settle their outstanding differences and lay down a basis which, it is hoped, will ensure a good understanding between then in the areas where their mutual interest is involved. This is what the two Governments have sought to achieve by the conclusion of their recent agreement. Thus, although the agreement might be said to deal solely with Anglo-Italian affairs, I am convinced that the mere fact that the mutual interests of the two great countries should be thus capable- of reconciliation is significant. This fact must encourage all who wish to believe that on the basis of reason and goodwill international differences can be solved. It must also of necessity react favourably upon the general sense of security, not only in Europe, but throughout the world. On these broad grounds, therefore, the agreement can, ,in the view of His Majesty’s Government, be readily regarded as a contribution to general peace. Nor can His Majesty’s Government doubt that it is the realisation of this which has inspired the reception given to the agreement in most countries, and particularly Europe.” ,

Lord Halifax -continued that His Majesty’s Government had close relations with many other Governments, especially with France, in Europe, and elsewhere. It did not regard any of these relationships as by any means exclusive, and whilst strengthening Britain’s existing friendships she sought ways to increase them in number and extend their scope. The newly-signed agreement made a further step in this direction, as well as assisting in the promotion of peace in this distracted world. For the same reason the British Government was following with interest the progress made by the French Government in its efforts to reach a mutual agreement with Italy.

DISCUSSION OH ABYSSINIA GENEVA, May 10. (Received May 11, at 1.30 p.m.) A secret meeting of the Council decided to discuss Abyssinia on May 12. AFTERNOON MEETING ABANDONED ABYSSINIA’S CASE NOT READY. GENEVA, May 10. (Received May 11, at 2 p.m.) The afternoon’s Council meeting was abandoned, as Abyssinia is not ready to state its case.