FINAL STAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22463, 6 July 1936, Page 9

FINAL STAGES

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY

DECISION TO ADJOURN STUDY OF FUNCTIONS SANCTIONS PROBLEM PBOBABLE ABOLITION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 5, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, July 4 The Standing Orders Committee of the League yesterday agreed to tho following draft resolution for the close of the session of the Assembly. "If political circumstances have prevented the integral application of the Covenant, the principles of the Covenant remain intact. The Assembly observes that its experience of 16 years' application of the Covenant necessitates a special studv of the functions of the League with a view to reinforcing its authority."The Assembly invites members to submit their observations with a view to study at next session. The Assembly also invites the Committee of Co-ord-ination to consider the situation regarding sanctions and to recommend to the Governments an attitude which can be adopted. The Assembly to-day adopted the draft resolution by 44 votes, Abyssinia alone opposing it and South Africa, Chile, Panama and Venezuela abstaining from voting. Mexico did not attend. The Assembly by 23 votes to one, rejected the Abyssinian request for a loan of £10.000,000. There were 25 abstentions. The bureau of the Assembly adopted a report stating that Abyssinia's demand for recognition is covered generally by the draft resolution, also that Abyssinia's request for a loan from the League had already been rejected. After a brief session at noon, the Assembly adjourned until 6 p.m., the president, Dr. van Zeeland stating that several delegates wished to consult their Governments concerning the draft resolution.

It is understood that to-day's adjournment was largely due to Haili Selassie's desire to make a final protest against the resolution.

WOMAN'S APPEAL

DANGER OF WAR FURTHER VIEWS ON SANCTIONS GENEVA, July 3 When the Assembly resumed its sittings this evening, Miss Herstin Hesselgrin (Sweden), the only woman speaker, said: "Women throughout the world are suffering intense anguish from the danger of war. How can women wish to bear children in a world which is 60 hopeless? You will secure women's collaboration wholeheartedly if you work for peace." The Mexican delegates informed the president, Dr. van Zeeland, that they ■would not participate further in the proceedings concerning the Halo-Abys-sinia'dispute and would abstain from voting. They did not agree with the handling of the question, but did not wish to obstruct the work of the Assembly. Senor Barcia, whose speech was so tragically interrupted by the suicide of Lux, urged that the Covenant did not need reform, but the practice of the spirit in which it was applied. M. Delbos (France) said that economic and financial measures alone could not stop. war. The community must bring all means at its disposal, including force, into action at the outset. "The solution lies in new regional pacts or a strengthening of the existing ones," he said. "The League still merits confidence. It has not succeeded because the weapons of the Covenant were not used with full effect." The general pessimism has deepened. The French press does not attempt to disguise the failure of the League in the Italo-Abyssinia dispute.

FOREIGN POLICY

BRITISH CABINET British Wireless RTJGBY, July 3 In a vigorous justification of the Government's foreign policy, Mr. Baldwin, in his speech at the dinner of London Conservatives, said circumstances had proved that the sanctions imposed against Italy were not swift enough in practice to effect what they had all hoped might be possible. There came a point when further pressure might well have meant war, and once war was in progress no one knew where it would spread or when it would end. Last year, during certain developments in Europe, Mr. Baldwin said lie was convinced that if this country were again to participate in sanctions she should do so with the knowledge that they might very likely leave war in their train and therefore she must prepare herself to fulfil her obligations under the Covenant. That was why Britain was now preparing, in the event of it being necessary at any time to take obligations under the Covenant, whatever might be the result. Until trade once more began to circulate, and goods could bo exchanged and paid for by nations, there would be no permanence in security. Although they all knew that they must go on quickly with rearmament, they realised that expenditure being niado on armaments was at the expense of international trade. They had to emphasise the folly of such procedure in their conversations with foreign countries, for if protracted too long it might lead to ruin. The Prime Minister added: "It is our very strong desire to bring together Franco and Germany, without whose collaboration no peace in Europe is possible. 1, still hope that in these next months we may see progress toward the goal-which we all desire."