THE H.B. TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1934 WITHIN THE LEAGUE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 237, 19 September 1934, Page 6

THE H.B. TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1934 WITHIN THE LEAGUE.

It is not altogether easy from our cable messages to follow the proceedings of the League of Nations and its Council preliminary to the admittance of Russia to membership. Sj far as the Council is concerned it is fairly clear that it has given an effective volt allotting a permanent seat on that body to the Russian representa tive. This is, however, dependent upon the Assembly of the League approving by a bare majority of this decision, a majority that seems absolutely assured. It is dependent also, of course, upon Russia’s admittance to the League itself, and this requires a twothirds majority of those represented at the meeting held to consider the matter. The latest message to hand at time of writing says that the “Political Committee’’ of the League “by 38 votes to 3, with 7 abstentions,” has approved Russia’s admittance, but there may be some little doubt as to whether this is the final Assembly vote. The probability is, however, that it is so, the “political committee” being perhaps a committee of the whole. On the other hand it is possible that a formal vote of the Assembly as such has yet to be taken. In any case, it is very evident that Russia’s advent will be anything but welcome to several of the members, and probably not a few, while voting for admittance as a matter of policy, still share the feelings to which the Swiss Foreign Minister, M. Motta, has given such forcible expression. Like the French Foreign Minister, M. Barthou, who is mainly responsible for Russia’s candidature, they will “prefer to have Russia within the fold rather than outside.” It may be, indeed, that M. Motta’s outspoken objections are largely of German prompting, for there can bo little doubt that Herr Hitler, having himself given notice of withdrawal from the League, must look askance on Russia’s entry into it under French sponsorship. This can only emphasize the isolation to which the policy he has pursued has condemned his country. Russia, on her part, is no doubt entering, as did Germany, more with a view to what may be gained for herself from membership than with any thought of sincere co-operation with other members, with whose purposes she has shown herself very much at variance. No doubt one motive is to strengthen her position in case of further trouble with Japan, who, like Germany, has given notice of withdrawal from the League. At the outset of negotiations Russia had given intimation that only a unanimous favourable vote would induce her to accept membershipj but apparently she has deemed it politic to waive this condition.

As we write a message has come through to the effect that the Assembly has, in open meeting, passed with the necessary majorities the resolutions admitting Russia to membership and granting her a permanent place in the Council. Thus all formalities have been carried out. M. Motta again voiced his objections, but gained support from only two other speakers. There were still seven

others who, though apparently maintaining silence, refused to give any affirmative vote in favour of Russia, contenting them selves with an abstention from voting at all. The Russian Minister, on his part, refrained from giving any answer to the appeal made to him to give assurance of liberty of conscience and religious worship. It has also to be noted that he had previously stipuated that the arbitration clauses of the Covenant would not apply to any differences or disputes in which his country may have been involved prior to becoming a member of the League. Thus it can scarcely but be admitted that Soviet Russia has scored something <>f a diplomatic triumph over both Germany and Japan without sacrificing much on her own side. It remains to be seen what use she will make of the position she has thus attained.