LEAGUE COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 177, 27 June 1936, Page 7

LEAGUE COUNCIL

MEETING AT GENEVA. QUESTION OF REFORM. INCONCLUSIVE DISCUSSION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received June 27, 8.5 a.m. GENEVA, June 26.

Prior to the opening of the session of the Council of the League of Nations to-day, large crowds welcomed the Emperor Haile Selassie shouting: “Long live the Emperor! Long live Ethiopia !” Ras Nasibu and a few Ethiopian officials met Haile Selassie, who accompanied Ras Nasibu. It is understood the Emperor will not address the League. The Abyssinian delegation is headed by Ras Nasibu, assisted by Dr. Jeze. Mr Eden read to the Council a Note from Count Ciano, stating that while Italy was not attending the present session she was prepared to resume collaboration with the League when the present situation was cleared up. A debate followed on reforming the Covenant.

M. Litvinoff (Russia) advocated the appointment of a committee to examine definite proposals. He was not sure that the League must be reformed, or that a new League would be an improvement, and expressed the opinion that the Covenant had not failed, but arms which the Covenant provided had not been employed. M. Titulescu (Rumania) declared that it was not the Covenant but those applying it who must be reformed . Mr Eden suggested awaiting the Assembly’s discussion. The Spanish, Portuguese, and Turkish delegates supported Mr Eden, and the meeting adjourned. The conversations will continue in private until the Assembly meets on June 30.

Considerable amusement was caused by two young Genevese, one of whom, dressed to resemble the Negus, drove around in a fine car. He placed a wreath on the Calvin Memorial and accepted sympathetic salutes from the police and bystanders. As the real Negus was leaving the station a man, believed to be an Italian, shouted insulting epithets. A Paris message says it is expected that the presence of the Emperor will influence the delegates to the Assembly to confine themselves to appointing a commission to furnish a report in September.

BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

COMMON POLICY. (British Official Wireless.) Received June 27. 11.42 a.m. RUGBY, June 26. Representatives of many countries reached Geneva this morning to attend the League of Nations’ meetings. The Council meets to-da.y for the first time since May 13. Its proceedings are expected to be shorn of much interest by the meeting of the League Assembly, convened for Tuesday. The Council is expected to pass on to the latter the difficult task of considering the Italo-Ethiopian dispute, for the Assembly will have as its sole item of discussion “examination of the situation brought about by the annexation of Ethiopia., and also the situation in regard to sanctions enacted by the Assembly.” It is expected that the representatives of the majority of the nations in tho Assembly will desire to make statements.

The British and French Foreign Ministers travelled by the slow train from Paris to Geneva, which they reached this morning. After last night’s talk a.t the British Embassy between Mr R. A. Eden and M.M. Blum and Delbos it was announced that complete agreement bad been reached bv Britain and I ranee on the attitude'to be adopted at tlie League meetings. It was the first occasion Mr Eden and M. Delbos had met. Soon after his arrival in Geneva, Mr Eden, who is presiding over the meetings of tho League Council, received a request for an interview this afternoon from S 3 nor Bova Scoppa, the Italian representative, who wished to see Mr Eden in his capacity a.s President. Mr Eden also had interviews with M. Avenol (Secretary-General), the Yugoslav Minister (M. Pourriteh) and the Portuguese Foreign Minister (Senor Montero).

IMPORTANT AGENDA.

POSITION OF ITALY

i;egal difficulties. (Times Cables.) LONDON, Juno 26. The Geneva correspondent „of the Times says that there are four items on the agenda of the League Council: Italy and Ethiopia, slavery, the Treaty of Locarno, and the settlement of the Iraq Assyrians. Tho Council is almost certain to pass on to the Assembly consideration of the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia. Tiie second item, slavery, however, may provide a foretaste or members opinions about the position of Haile Selassie, foi tho experts’ report on slavery mentions Ethiopia. According to tho rules of the Council a representative of the Ethiopian Government should bo allowed to conic to the table and make a speech. The question will immediately arise: Is there an Ethiopian Government? It is not expected that any Italian representative will appear. Tho Italian Government have announced that they will not participate in League proceedings until the sanctions affair is cleared up. There tiro legal difficulties even if the sanctions question is settled. in principle Italy lias been formally designated an aggressor. Will the condemnation bo revoked ? No country has so far volunteered to propose this, and if the autumn decision stands the obligations under paragraph one of Article l(i will presumably also stand and Italy will remain technically at war with all other members of the League.