TO END SPANISH WAR

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 7

TO END SPANISH WAR

SUGGESTION FOR MANDATE

MR JORDAN’S FIERY SPEECH (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) GENEVA, September 16. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan, in a fiery moving speech at the League Council debate on the Spanish appeal suggested that Spain should be asked to become an A grade mandate in order to stop the war and hold fair elections when the country had calmed down, so that the people could decide their own destiny. “I ask the Spanish nation whether it is too late to do that now.” The peoples throughout the world desired peace, but the opinions of governments sometimes cut across the opinions of the people. He expressed horror at the outrages against shipping and against civilians' in Spain. Speaking earnestly, rising from his seat and waving his arms, Mr Jordan declared: “Who will next appeal against this warring? We are referring too many matters to the committees. My nation is small—you may say insignificant —but it is ready to stand behind the Covenant for collective security. The League’s purpose is to protect humanity and oppose unwarranted attacks on innocent people. After the aggressions in Ethiopia, Spain, and China, New Zealand could not help asking, as a small country, who would be next, and if New Zealand were attacked would her colleague nations stand by?” Referring to the sinking of the Campeador, Mr Jordan said Italian warships had not only allegedly torpedoed the tanker, but had machine-gunned the escaping crew, four of whom were left floating dead with their lifebelts on. It seemed like reading a book rather than a story of what had happened in.our ’ifetime. Mr Jordan asked why Italy had not come before the Council to state her case. The League must consider that acts violating international law had been perpetrated. We had also heard an appeal from China to which the Japanese sources had responded by blaming the Chinese. “That at least is something to investigate,” he declared. APPEAL TO UNIONS CALL TO FIGHT FASCISM (Received September 18, 12.20 a.m.) PARIS, September 17. Senor Largo Caballero, former Prime Minister of Spain, states that if the League refuses action in favour of Republican Spain, “we shall ask international unions to introduce direct action in their respective countries to force democracies to fight Fascism.”