COUNCIL'S POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 13

COUNCIL'S POWER

FIRST TIME USED DECISION UNANIMOUS SESSION TO CONTINUE FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright GENEVA. Sept. 2(5 For the first time in its history the Council of the League of Nations to-day unanimously decided to invoke Article XV. of the Covenant in connection with the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia. The President, Senor Guinazu (Argentina), proposed the appointment of a committee of all the members of the Council, except Italy (totalling 13), and suggested that the Council should not close its session but remain ready for speedy action in the event of a grave development. The Council aNo decided that the Committee of Five should remain ready to renew conciliation efforts riionld the opportunity offer. XL Litvinoff ("Russia) announced that the Soviet would support any action the Council should resolve to take. The Italians did not attend the meeting, but thev consider that the continuance of the Committee of Five leaves the path to conciliation open. Reason lor Italians' Absence It is t:;idefHtood that the Italian Uelegates' absence was due to their refusal to sit at the Council table while Abyssinia is given that privilege. Senor de Madariaga, having read the report of the Committee of Five, of which he is chairman, Hawariat (Abyssinia) stated that his Government would certainly consider with the greatest attention any suggestion made by the League Council. , Senor Guinazu urged that all efforts to effect conciliation should be continued. "The thoughts of the two pairties are now known, therefore I propose that the Council should take immediate steps to draft a report under Article XV., paragraph 4, of the Covenant," said Senor Guinazu. "The Comncil, sitting as a committee, without, of course, the Italian delegates should be entrusted with that task." British {Support of Pkn Mr. Anthony Eden (Britain) supported the appointment of a committee to prepare a report and recommendations in accordance with Article XV. He expressed regret that in spite of the sincerity of the efforts made no solution had been reached. Ho recalled that on September 4 he had expressed the view that the machinery of the League should be brought into use, and ho now suggested that Article XV., paragraph 4, should be employed as a means of solving the problem. "This is the task upon which we will engage with all the strenuousness and attention which it is possible to command, but also without undue delay. This procedure has a further advantage, to tvhich the President has very properly drawn attention. "This, is that, so long as the committee is engaged in drawing up its report arid recommendations the work conciliation can continue, and clearly no opportunity for such conciliation within the terms of the Covenant should be missed. While the work of drafting the report is in progress the Governments will have an opportunity to consider whether and, so, how anything further can bo done to safeguard peace. "This is an obligation which tho members of tho League will not overlook. I will end with one word upon the wider issues of this dispute," said Mr. Eden. "The policy of the British Government in this respect has been recently and authoritatively declared. 1 need therefore only add that by that policy the Government is seriously determined to abide." Attftudn of France and Russia 'M. Laval (France) supported Mr. Eden, stating that the appointment of a committee was the only possible step open to the Council, which would accomplish its task according to the letter and spirit of the Covenant. "France will adhere to the obligations of tho Covenant," said M. Laval. Iho Council will now abide by the Covenant and formulate its recommendations. 1 also agree on that point with the representative of Britain. "The Council will accomplish this task in the spirit and letter of the Covenant, and will, I am sure, after having .reviewed the circumstances of

the dispute, indicate the methods which it will judge to be most equitable." M. Litvinoff said there could be no doubt as to measures the Soviet Government would take when the time came to safeguard peace in Africa and in other parts of the world. The Soviet's approval of the invocation of Article XV., however, did not imply that it accepted the report of tho Committee of Five. Herr Munch (Denmark), in supporting the previous speakers, said he was convinced the Council would know how to indicate the best means of maintaining peace as well as tho principles of the League of Nations. Dr. Hawariat declared that Abyssinia would consider with the greatest care any suggestions of the Council. The new committee will meet to-mor-row and the lull in the public activities t f the Council is likely to last for seven to ten days. It is understood that at a private meeting of the Council M. Litvinoff, M. Titulescu (Rumania) and Tewfik Aras (Turkey) objected to tho report of the Committee of Five as conceding too much to Italy. They stated that the findings violated the League's principles in respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The Committee of Thirteen comprises representatives of Britain, Franco and Russia (permanent members of the League Council) and of the following nan-- permanent members: —Poland, Spain, Denmark, Argentina, Australia, Portugal, Chile, Turkey, Ecuador and Rumania. ITALY'S POSITION RESTRAINT OF ACTION WAR WOULD MEAN OUTLAWRY GENEVA, Sept. 26 "One of tho greatest decisions in its history," was one delegate's description of the League Council's decision to invoke Article XV. This accurately summarises the general feeling in League circles. The Council, in order to avoid giving umbrage to Italy, hitherto had avoided raising the question as to which article of the Covenant would goveru its procedure. Henceforward there can be no further evasion of this issue. The jjosition is that, for three months after the adoption of tho report (under paragraph 4 of Article XV.) of the new Committee of Thirteen, stating the facts of the dispute and giving its recommendations, no member of the League may resort to war without incurring tho penalties under Article XVI. This means, in effect, that Italy will become an outlaw nation if she resorts to war in Abyssinia before January. Obviously it will be difficult to secure unanimity among the members of the Committee of Thirteen, especially in view of the opinion of MM. Litvinoff, Titulescu and Tewfik Aras that the plan offered to Abyssinia transcended their view of what was due to the integrity of any member of tho League. The committee, in view of the ending of tho rainy season in Abyssinia, will expedite its report, the completion of which is expected within 10 days. HUSHED SILENCE RECEPTION OF VERDICT THE GALLERIES PACKED LONDON. Sept. 26 The Geneva correspondent of the Associated Press says the Council's decision was made in hushed silence. The public galleries were packed and the diplomatic galleries wore so full that many could not find seats and stood crushed against the walls.

j MR. EDEN'S SPEECH DISCUSSION AROUSED " FURTHER MEASURES " PHRASE LONDON. Sept. 26 The Geneva correspondent of tho Associated Press says the most discussed phrase of Mr. Eden's speech was his reference to possible further measures to safeguard peace during the Council's preparation of its report. The correspondent was assured that Mr. Eden did not intend tho phrase to signify a minimising of the British objection to action being taken outside the Council. The further Ethiopian request for tho despatch of impartial observers must be considered in relation to its practical difficulties. Mr. Edon's reference to conciliation is understood to have been intended to leave an opening to accede to the Abyssinian request for a commission of observers to go to Abyssinia.