DISMISSAL ORDERED

Evening Star, Issue 23101, 29 October 1938, Page 17

DISMISSAL ORDERED

FRENCH CHIEF CF STAFF AT GENEVA LEAGUE CIRCLES ASTONISHED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON,' October 28. “ The news that M. Avenol had dismissed his chief of staff, M. Marcel Hoden, who is strongly anti-Fascist, astonished League circles, where it is regarded as a direct consequence of the Munich agreement and the first step in a movement to make the League safe for Fascism,” says the Geneva correspondent of the ‘ Manchester Guardian.’ “It has been known for a long time that the totalitarian Powers demanded as the price of their return to Genova a ‘ purge ’ of the League secretariat. The plunge has evidently been begun and other anti-Fascist officials are expected to follow M. Hoden to retirement. M. Avenol has become an avowed supporter of the Chamberlain policy and League reform in the sense demanded by Herr Hitler. Signor Mussolini was causing a profound divergence between him and M. Hoden, who had a permanent League contract. M. Avenol was, therefore, Obliged to abolish the post and get rid of him.’?. AKIN TO PURGE REFORM OF LEAGUE ENVISAGED. LONDON, October 28. (Received October 29, at 10.0 a.m.) The British . United Press Geneva correspondent says something akin to a purge is going on in the League staff, It is' understood that other members, including highly-placed officials, will bo asked to retire within the year. It is freely stated that the need for economy is the excuse for the elimination ol secretariat left wingers. The abolition of the under-secretary generalship is suggested to mean the elimination or transfer of M. Vladmir Sokoline, the League’s only member of the Soviet, There is a definite impression in League circles that Mr Chamberlain is preparing a long-range appeasement policy embracing arms limitation, economic accord, and the creation of a permanent peace organisation, giving the nations’ leaders an opportunity 'of direct contact on the lines of the Munich agreement, regarding which it is suggested that a reformed League may be the nucleus of the new organisation. It is understood that reform of the League envisages amalgamation of the political, disarmament, mandates, and minorities sections, involving retirement of the present heads. ECONOMY GIVEN AS REASON AVENOL’S EXAMPLE TO COMMITTEE. GENEVA, October 28. (Received October 29, at 10.15 a.m.) An official statement regarding M. Hoden declares tliat the League Assembly, having appointed a committee to work' out economies, M. Aveiiol decided to show an example and suppress the employment of a chief secretary.