LEAGUE’S TASK

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1935, Page 5

LEAGUE’S TASK

“DISTRACTED WORLD” CONFIDENCE IN RESULT ASSEMBLY BEGINS WORK DR. BENES NEW PRESIDENT ‘EYES TURNED TO GENEVA’ British Wireless. Rugby, Sept. 9. The sixteenth annual Assembly of the League of Nations met this morning under the presidency of Senor Guinazu (Argentina). The meeting opened with a review by Senor Guinazu in the course of which he said: “The world is distracted wilt anxiety. This anxiety, among other forms, takes that of measures of rearmament, prolonging the economic crisis which weighs so heavily upon the peoples of the earth. The League, however, is not going to give up its efforts towards helping the world on to economic recovery. “Despite every difficulty the League is continuing its heavy task. It has now been in existence for 15 years and in that short time it has demonstrated by its very existence that peace is indivisible, and that to preserve the Covenant it is necessary in order to achieve international peace and security to prescribe open, just and honourable relations between nations. It must be so more than ever at a time like the present, when the sky once more is overcast and the whole world in deep anxiety turns its eyes towards Geneva. We must be firm and resolved Io do all that lies in our power to render the League fully effective.” MR. DE VALERA WITHDRAWS. Fifty-four States participated in the ballot for the presidency of the Assembly, from which Mr. de Valera withdrew. Dr. Benes (Czechoslovakia) was elected witn 49 votes. Acknowledging his election Dr. Benes said: “I cannot conceal the grave dangers at the moment, but I have not only hope, but a certainty that we will prevail over our difficulties and emerge triumphant.” The Italian abstention from the proceedings seemingly only applies to the Council. When the Abyssinian problem arises Baron Aloisi and his colleagues will be present in full force. It seems probable that the greater part of to-day’s and to-morrow’s sessions of the Assembly will be devoted to routine matters, which include the election of vice-presidents, the setting up of committees to deal with legal, technical, budgetary, social and political questions, the election of three new permanent members of the Council and a new member of the Permanent Court of International Justice. Other matters may also come before the Council before the Geneva discussion of the report of the secretariat is begun, probably on Wednesday. Reports from Geneva state that Sir Samuel Hoare, British Foreign Secretary, may make his opening speech in this debate, and he is expected to raise the question of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute. On his arrival at Geneva Sir Samuel Hoare was met by Mr. R. A. Eden, whom he informed that the line of action he had so far pursued in the Abyssinian dispute had the full support of the Prime Minister and the whole British Cabinet. During the week-end, when the preliminary routine business is disposed of, the League Assembly will debate the Sec-retary-General’s report.