LEAGUE CRITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22136, 14 December 1933, Page 9

LEAGUE CRITICS

ANSWERED BY M. AVENOL VIGOROUS SPEECH IN LONDON (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY,’ December 12. M. Avenol addressed the members of all the political parties in the House of Commons committee room. on Austen Chamberlain was in the chair. M. Avenol made a vigorous reply to critics of the League. He said that the alternative before the world was not a choice between the League and some better system, but between the League and. almost complete chaos. The chief cause of the crisis in League affairs was the problem of disarmament, which was purely a European matter. It was to be regretted that the responsibility for the failure of the great Powers to reach an understanding on this question should be laid at the door of 'the League. While the work and methods of the League must not become stereotyped, any changes must be made from the inside. He said that the general structure of the covenant represented the minimum of obligations, without which no effective international cooperation could exist, and the League was the only practical measure taken by the human race to establish a rule of law in the relationships of countries.

DISARMAMENT PROBLEM. CONVERSATIONS CONTINUED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 12. In accordance with the decision taken by the Disarmament Conference Bureau “ parallel and supplementary efforts ” are being undertaken by the various Governments through diplomatic channels. The British Government is in close touch with Paris, Berlin, and Rome and is encouraging bilateral, conversations. It is emphasised that the present situation will not be cleared up by an isolated pronouncement from any quarter, as the ■whole. purpose is to seek the best possible basis upon which .the .work at Geneva-could be resumed with prospects of achieving something positive.