GENEVA SURPRISE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18203, 26 September 1933, Page 6

GENEVA SURPRISE

NEW LEAGUE PRESIDENT DISAHMAMENT PROSPECTS MORE OPTIMISTIC TONE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received September 26, 2 p.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 25. Apart from Dr. Uocbbel’s arrival with a bodyguard of 15 stalwarts, the. opening of the Assembly was devoid ot incident. The Germans and Austrians occupy tho front row. Japan, lor the first time since the League was formed, has not sent a delegation, and is represented by a single observer. With the object of being remote from the centre of tilings, the Germans changed their hotel, and are staying at tho far cud of Geneva. The hotel is guarded l day and night by Swiss police, in addition to the delegation’s own plain-clothes bodyguard. Dr. Dollfiiss also is strongly guarded. The formation of his new Ministry necessitates his return to Vienna on Thursday. The election of Mr. te Water to the presidatiey was the biggest surprise in the history of the Assembly openings. For the first time the voting went totally against all expectations. Mr. te Water’s election nonplussed the secretariat, because, despite English being the. official language, with French, all the president’s instructions arc in French, necessitating an immediate translation. The incoming president had no speech prepared. The election means that South Africa no longer contemplates opposing Australia oil the Council.

Mr. te Water’s election was mainly due to tho Mexican candidate’s inability to speak English or French. Moreover, the Mexicans threatened to leave tho League if their nominee was not elected, which annoyed several of the Powers. Tho Assembly opened listlessly. Interest centres in the disarmament discussions.

Fir John Simon and Captain A. Eden had a long meeting with the Dominion delegates, which was almost, entirely devoted to disarmament. The Sun Service learns that Sir John Simon declared himself more optimistic than for a considerable time. The French are prepared for a much greater advance than was expected, informing Sir John that any convention is better than none, because failure would loosen a Hood of rearmament. Sir John Simon pointed out that Germany wanted a convention. but Baron von Neurath insisted that it must he a convention to which Germany could subscribe because site wanted honestly to fulfil it. Sir John Simon also' told the Dominion delegates that the improved French and Italian situation was an important augury.