League To Discuss Arbitration

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1939, Page 5

League To Discuss Arbitration

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, "December 3,

The League Council Assembly will meet at Geneva on December 9, - in order to discuss arbitration in the Russo-Finnish conflict. M. Reti’s Cabinet—the constitutional Government of Finland—held its first meeting yesterday in a shelter in the centre of the city, and issued an appeal to the League of Nations to intervene in the Russo-Fin-nish dispute on the basis of Articles XI and XV of the Covenant, says the Helsingfors correspondent of the British United Press.

It is interesting to note, apropos the appeal to the

League, that Russia has just paid to the League the outstanding balance of her 1939 contributions, and that Finland

did the same on the same day.

The Copenhagen newspaper “Extrabladet” says the Ryti Government left Helsingfors for new headquarters, which are not disclosed. “Should Have Help.”

The Finnish Foreign Minister (M. Tanner), made a statement to the nation, in which he said: “We are fighting for the defence of all Western culture and think we should not have only the sympathy, but the effective help of the rest of the world.

The Secretary-General at Geneva (M. Avenol) summoned the LeagueCouncil to meet at noon on December 9th.

He asked Mr de Valera to summon the Assembly, of which he is President, for December 11. Finland’s appeal to the League, which was signed by M. Rudolf Holsti, Finnish delegate, and former Foreign Minister, outlined the Russo-Finnish relations since 1920, and concluded: “We request you to ask the Council and the Assembly to take the necessary measures to terminate the aggression.” ■ A .delicate situation will be avoided, since the presidency of the Soviet Ambassador in London (M. Maisky) -terminates automatically when the Council meets.

A Belgian delegate succeeded to the position.