League Expels Russia

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 297, 16 December 1939, Page 7

League Expels Russia

Allies Pledge Aid to Finns SPOKESMEN CONDEMN AGGRESSOR United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 14. Decisions which have the effect of expelling Russia from the League of Nations were taken by the Council and Assembly of the League to-day / The Assembly this morning considered the report of the Firland Committee, which recommended expulsion and a draft resolution condemning Russia for its aggression against Finland and calling upon members of the League to render such assistance to Finland as was within their power. Speakers in the debate included Mr. R. A. Butler, British Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, who gave the full support of the United Kingdom delegation to the report and resolution. The Assembly then unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russia as an aggressor and asking members to aid Finland. The Scadinavian States, the Baltic States, China, Mexico, Bulgaria and Switzerland abstained. Mr. Butler said that Britain was already taking steps to enable Finland to obtain war materials. “The Assembly can rest assured that, despite the heavy burden the Empire and France are carrying in their major struggle for the right of law, Britain will not excuse herself from giving all possible assistance to Finland,” he said. M. de Kibes said that France fully supported the proposal to aid Finland by all means. The Portuguese delegate, Senor de Matta, said that the aggression against Finland was a supreme crime and that not only Finland was endangered. The Mexican delegate, Senor Manuel Tcllo, objected to the procedure, but promised to abstain rather than block Russia’s expulsion. The Indian delegate, Sir Muhammad Khan, was loudly applauded when he declared: “This monster must be checked before it brings barbarism and chaos to the whole world. ’ ’ The Swiss delegate, M. William Pappard, said that Switzerland was abstaining from registering her vote for the sole reason that she did not wish to affect her special neutrality within the League. Dr. Holsti, the Finnish spokesman, expressed Finland’s profound gratitude. The council, at a private session, formulated a draft resolution which stated: “Tho council associates itself with tlio Assembly’s condemnation of Russia's action against Finland and finds, by virtue of Article 16, paragraph 4 of the Covenant (which provides for expulsion after an act of aggression) that tho Soviet has thereby placed itself outside the Covenant of the League. It therefore follows that the Soviet is no longer a member.” The Council adopted the resolution with four abstentions—China, Finland, Greece and Yugoslavia. Speaking at the Council meeting, Mr. Butler said that, in his view, the Council had no alternative but to accept tho resolution. He added that, if they failed, the whole world would doubt the reality of their convictions. Britain and France were fighting in defence of those principles which formed tho foundation of the Covenant. China and Egypt were elected to the Council.