PACKED ASSEMBLY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 September 1936, Page 9

PACKED ASSEMBLY

GENERAL DEBATE OPENS MR ANTHONY EDEN’S SPEECH REGIONAL PACTS ADVOCATED [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 26th September, 9.15 a.m.) GENEVA, 24th September. A packed assembly heard Mr Anthony Eden, British Foreign Minister, open the general debate. He began with a statement that Britain did not want to see nations divided into two camps. Forms of government were challenging each other. Nationally controlled propaganda and controlled criticism had stifled thought,' and there had been a general weakening of coincidence. We should not allow anyone to wrest our democracy from us. There must be toleration and internal order. Two essential elements are League machinery and the will to work. The recent failure of collective security action was due to lack of more energetic and more effective intervention in the early stages of the crisis. a! infill

Mr Anthony Eden continuing, said that members of the Council should early show how far they were prepared to intervene in the cause of peace. It would be a powerful deterrent when military preparations were afoot. Regional pacts could be devised to strengthen the Covenant. Britain was resolved to negotiate such a pact in Western Europe. Britain will persist in her rearmament until the nations have reached a limitation agreement. Not only weapons, but war mentality must be laid aside. NON-INTERVENTION AGREEMENT CRITICISED Senor Del Vayo, Spanish Foreign Minister, described the non-interven-tion agreement as a ‘’juridical monstrosity” amounting in practice to intervention on behalf of the rebels and a blockade against the government. The policy of non-intervention had been entirely advantageous to the rebels, and the embargo had not deprived them of anything. t HAILE SELASSIE LEAVES FOR LONDON GENEVA, 24th September. Haile Selassie left for London tonight.