RUSSIA JOINS LEAGUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1934, Page 7

RUSSIA JOINS LEAGUE

SEAT ON COUNCIL SMALL STATES HOLD ALOOF [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] GENEVA, September 15. Russia has accepted an invitation, signed by thirty members to join the League. After the acceptance, the League Council formally and unanimously voted in favour of giving the Soviet a permanent seat. Panama, Portugal and Argentina did not vote, but all of the British Dominions, except the Irish Free State, signed the invitation to Russia, while other European States that did not sign the invitation were: —Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Luxemburg and Switzerland. The proceedings for securing Russia’s election are to be completed by September 18. “DISPUTES” RESERVATION. (Recd. September 17, 10 a.m.) GENEVA, September 16. Litvinoff, in a letter regarding the acceptance says the Soviet was especially glad to enter the League at a time when consideration was being given of the Amendment of the Covenant, in order to harmonise the Briand-Kellogg pact and banish warfare. He adds: The Soviet is of the opinion that submission of disputes to arbitration or judicial settlement, under Articles 12 and 13 of the Covenant, should not be applicable to questions arising before Russia’s entry to the League. LITTLE ENTENTE. PARIS, September 15. Diplomatic circles understand that a complete agreement has been reached in negotiations for the admission of Russia to the League of Nations. The Little Entente’s Permanent Council—-M. Nicholae Titulescu (Roumania), Yevtiteh (Yugoslavia), and Dr E. Benes (Czechoslovakia) decided to support Russia’s admission to the League and passed a resolution favouring the Eastern Locarno Pact. They decided to support the status quo regarding minorities. POLAND AND MINORITIES. GENEVA, September 15. Colonel Beck stated to-day that Poland maintained her attitude regarding minorities, and did not consider the situation changed by today’s debate.