PLACE IN LEAGUE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 5

PLACE IN LEAGUE

ETHIOPIA ADMITTED DECISION AT GENEVA QUERIES BY MR, JORDAN INSISTENCE ON POINT (Klec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (R'ecd. Sept. 24, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. A message from Geneva says* it is officially announced that Abyssinia has been admitted to a seat in the Assembly of the League of Nations, and the question is not being referred to The Hague Court. The Associated Press' .correspondent at Geneva says that the attitude of the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, on the Credentials Committee was a source of unexpected embarrassment. Instead of passively following Britain Mr. Jordan, with the Soviet Minister, M. Litvinov, was one of the leading figures in the debates. He pointedly asked who had denied the right of'the Emperor of Abyssinia to fight his case before the League. Nobody replied. ••■ MR. EDEN ' SILENT'

The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, remained glumly silent. It was left to the French Foreign Minister, M. Delbos, to seek to sidetrack the issue by again insisting on the importance of bringing back Italy into concert with Europe, but even he did not challenge the right of tlicAbyssinians to sit in the Assembly. It became certain to-day that the committee would not be unanimous.

Mr. Jordan, M. Litvinov, and the Netherlands delegate, Dr. Limburg, would not support any proposals to exclude Abyssinia from the League while The Hague Court was considering the matter of eligibility. New Zealand's representatives on the League committees are:— First committee: Sir James Parr and Mr. C. A. Berendsen. Second committee: Sir James Parr and Dr. R. N. 'Campbell;

Fourth committee: Mr. W. J. Jordan and Mr. Knowles. Fifth committee: Mr. Jordan and Mr. A. E. Day. Sixth committee: Mr. Jordan and Mr. Berendsen. DIVISION OF OPINION 39 VOTES TO FOUR HUNGARIAN CHALLENGE (British Official Wireless.) Reed. noon. RUGBY, Sept. 2.'!. The Credentials Committee of the League of Nations decided that the Ethiopians should have the benefit of the doubt, and that their credentials should be accepted. On the submission of the committee's report to the Assembly, the right of Ethiopia to a seat was challenged by the Hungarian representative, who was supported by the delegates of Albania and Austria. The report of the Credentials Committee giving the right to the Ethiopian delegation to attend the Assembly was then put to the vote, and was accepted by 39 votes to four, with six abstentions.