LEAGUE COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 9

LEAGUE COUNCIL

ETHIOPIAN PKOBLEM

REFERRED TO ASSEMBLY

MEETING ADJOURNED By Telograph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, June 26 Representatives of many countries reached Geneva this morning to attend meetings of the League Council and Assembly. The Council met to-day for the first time since May 13. Its proceedings were shorn of much interest by the meeting of the Assembly convened for Tuesday. The Council, as was expected, referred to the Assembly the difficult task of considering the Italo-Ethiopian dispute, for the Assembly will have as its sole item of discussion "examination of the situation brought about by the annexation of Ethiopia and also the situation in regard to sanctions enacted by the Assembly." It is expected that the representatives of a majority of the nations in the Assembly will desire to make statements.

The British and French Foreign Ministers travelled by slow train from Paris to Geneva. After last night's talk at the British Embassy, Paris, between Mr. Eden and MM. Blum and Delbos it was announced that complete agreement had been reached by Britain and Franco on the attitude to be adopted at the League meetings. It was the first occasion on which Mr. Eden and M. Delbos, the French Foreign Secretary, had met. Soon after his arrival at Geneva, Mr. Eden, who is presiding over the meetings of the League Council, received a request for an interview from Signor Bova Scoppa, Italian representative, who wished to see Mr. Eden in his capacity as president. Mr. Eden also had interviews with M. Avenol, Sec-retary-General, the Yugoslav Minister, M. Pourritch, and the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Senhor Montero.

Mr. Eden read to the Council a Note from Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Secretary, stating that, while Italy would not attend the present session, she was prepared to resume collaboration with the League when the present situation was cleared up. A debate followed on the reform of the Covenant. M. Litvinoff advocated the appointment of a committee to examine definite proposals. He was not sure the League must be reformed, or that a new League would be an improvement, and expressed the opinion that the Covenant had not failed, but that arms which the Covenant provided had not been employed. M. Titulescu (Rumania) said it,.was not the Covenant but those applying it who must be reformed.

Mr. Eden suggested awaiting the Assembly discussion. The Spanish, Portuguese and Turkish delegates supported Mr. Eden, and the meeting was adjourned. Earl Stanhope has gone to Geneva to discuss points with Mr. Eden.