LEAGUE COUNCIL MEETING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 May 1939, Page 5

LEAGUE COUNCIL MEETING

POSTPONEMENT SUGGESTED DESIRE OF THE SOVIET lßritish Official Wireless) (Received 12th May, 10.28 a.m.) RUGBY, 11th May. It is understood that negotiations are in train at Geneva for the postponement of the meeting of the League of Nations Council. According to rotation it is the turn of the Russian member to preside, and the Soviet is believed to desire more time to allow its representative to reach Geneva.

In the past M. Litvinov generally attended and it is likely that if M! Molotov, Soviet Foreign Minister, cannot himself leave Moscow, the Soviet would wish M. Potemkin. Soviet Vice-Com-missar for Foreign Affairs, to represent Russia.

It is surmised that the purpose of the call to-day by M. Maisky, Russian Ambassador, on Lord Halifax, British Foreign Minister, was to solicit Britain’s interest in favour of the postponement of the meeting. It may be assumed that Britain would be agreeable to a short postponement if it would enable either M. Molotov or M. Potemkin to come to Geneva.

In reply to questions in the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain made it clear that Lord Halifax would welcome the opportunity of a personal exchange with M. Molotov at Geneva where M. Bonnet would represent France.

Such a meeting and conversations at first hand could not fail to be of advantage to that vigorous prosecution of negotiations between London, Moscow and Paris on East-European security questions which Mr Chamberlain's statements in the House of Commons have shown it is the desire of Britain to effect. PROVISIONAL POSTPONEMENT (Received 12th May. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON. 11th May. The meeting of the League Council was postponed provisionally until 22nd May