DRAMATIC DISCUSSION

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1935, Page 7

DRAMATIC DISCUSSION

RUSSIA CREATES A STIR THREE-POWER INFLUENCE SIR JOHN SIMON SPEAKS By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright • Geneva, April 17. In. his speech supporting the resolution put forward jointly by France, BriS and Italy Sir John Simon, Bnhsh Foreign Secretary, said: These three Powers, the object of whose policy is the collective maintenance of peace’ wrihin the framework of the League of Nations, find themselves in complete onnosing by all practicable means any unilateral repudiation of treaties_wtoch may endanger European peace, actin close and cordial collaboration for the ‘ puroose of the collective maintenance of peace within the framework of th Not representatives of individual nations tet as members of the. League Council they had submitted this tion, said Sir John. They admitted it to be a League resolution decided on by of the Council in free, equal and open consultation between themted three parts. The first reaffirmed the duty of all to respect ing contracted by them. Although on thfe occasion the Council was called upon to pronounce on the action o£ a particular Power they must apply proposition with equal candour to themselves and resolve to observe this duty impartially towards all. The second part urged the continuation of the London negotiations initiated in February, not only by the Governments then participating, but by all other Governments which had approved and encouraged those discussions. It amounted to approval by the Council of the London programme. He would be glad if the efforts they then made were thus expressly set within the framework of the League, said Sir John. , WORK FOR COMMITTEE. The third part proposed to set up a committee to examine what measures were appropriate and. practicable to render the Covenant of the League more effective in the organisation of collective security and to provide thereafter for the more effective observance of those international obligations on which world peace specially rested. This seemed to him a simple proposition, well by the circumstances which had called them together. ■ The resolution, said Sir John Simon, closed no door for the future. It would show that the League was .united in maintaining the cause for which it was founded, while all doors were left open for reaching by fresh negotiations that general settlement so necessary for the continued peace and future security of the world. ' The most noteworthy statement at the Council meeting was M. Litvinoff’s. Without specifically mentioning Germany he violently attacked “people who announced 1o ihe world a revengeful programme of unlimited foreign conquests by which the independence of entire States would be destroyed.” “What is to be done with a State that brings up people in that spirit? M. Litvinoff asked. “We would be happy to have an assurance that they are ready to collaborate in ensuring the collective security of States including themselves. In the absence Of. that we are, bound to draw appropriate conclusions.”. M Litvinoff causer perturbation by proposing, that the condemnation of unilateral treaty violations apply to other continents than Europe, obviously hinting at Japan. . Following warm intervention by bir John Simon, M. Laval and Baron Aloisi M. Litvinoff withdrew the proposal. The discussion indicated the tremendous influence of the Anglo-Franco-Italian unity. The fact- that only Denmark for special reasons abstained from voting is regarded as a triumph for the Stresa policy and a lesson and a warning to Germany. ■ The Council concluded by paying tribute to the British Ministers’ work during the European visits. • . '■ The Council appointed the following to serve on the committee for which the resolution provided: Great Britain, Canada, Chile, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, Soviet Russia and Yugoslavia. ANOTHER PACT MADE LITTLE ENTENTE—RUSSIA MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PLAN Rec. 11 p.m. Geneva, April 19. Dr. Bernes to-day informed the Little Ententes’ permanent council that Czechoslovakia has agreed to a mutual assistance pact with Russia on the lines of the Franco-Russian pact. The council approved the pact as being in conformity with the Little Entente’s policy fo£ the consolidation of P_eace,