DEPLORABLE SCENE

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1928, Page 5

DEPLORABLE SCENE

LEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBERS

VIOLENT ALTERCATION.

PROTECTION OP MINORITIES.

(Australian Press Association.! (Received 9 a.m.) GENEVA, December 15.

At Lugano, there was au unprecedentedly angry scene at the final meeting of the League of Nation s’ Council during discussion on the protection of minorities in Upper Silesia.

M. Adatohi, rapporteur, read a petiti'on from the Deutsche Volkebund complaining of the Polish authorities * treatment of German school children, whereupon M. Galeski, Polish Foreign Minister, jumped up and retorted violently, attacking (German minorities. He (declared that the Volkebund was an. organisation of spies, whose interference frequently prevented a settlement. If .permitted to (Continue, .the Volkebund would not only prevent consolidation, but would be a menace to European peace. Dr., Stresemann listened, pale with anger, 1 and impatiently drumming on the table. ' Immediately M. Galeski ceased, ho heatedly replied, shouting at the top of his voice and punctuating his remarks by thumping the table! He characterised M. Galeski’s speech as proof of the enmity of the minorities. It was scandalous that a member of the League Council, which was entrusted with the protection of minorities, should speak so vigorously. He denied M. Galeski’s allegations and demanded that the whole question be reviewed next session. M, Briaiid, hoping that the dispute would not inflame public opinion, promised discussion at the next Council meeting. .