FOR LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1935, Page 7

FOR LEAGUE

TERMS OF PEACE COUNCIL TO DECIDE BRITISH POSITION CLEAR OBJECT OF PROPOSALS BASIS FOR DISCUSSION British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. 12. According to Press telegrams iV is thought at Geneva that two courses WiU be open to the Council when the Italian and Ethiopian views on the Pans proposals have been received, suggested alternatives are that if both part find them unacceptable the proposals should be'dropped; or if they are not acceptable in the present form to either party they should be revised and resubmitted. ... , Mr. Eden, before the committee of eighteen, recalled the unanimous goodwill with which the committee at its last meeting approved of the attempts to find a basis of discussion between Italy and Ethiopia, and said: What, therefore, the representatives of the United Kingdom and the French Government sought to do at was work out proposals that might be suited to both sides and upon which both might be willing to come together to open discussions here at Geneva, pie proposals now put forward are neither definite nor sacrosant; they are suggestions which it is hoped will make possible the beginning of negotiations. “If the League does not agree with these suggestions we shall make no complaint. Indeed, we should cordially welcome any suggestions for. their improvement POLICY UNCHANGED. “The policy of His Majesty’s Government remains to-day what it has. been since the dispute began. It is that a settlement must be acceptable to the League as well as the two parties m conflict. In these circumstances it seems to me that the best procedure to follow at the present time is to call together the Council at the earliest ! practicable moment in order that a full statement of the proposals should be made to it. It will be for the Council to determine as and when It sees fit what course it would wish to pursue in the light of the situation thus created. And in advance I efhphasise that as far as His Majesty a Government is concerned we not only readily accept the judgment of our colleagues, but will continue to use our best efforts to further the two objectives which have been constantly before us in this dispute—restoration of peace and maintenance of the authority of the League.” The Polish delegate declared that the Paris proposals had created an entirely new situation and he urged that the committee should abstain from any measures of a political character until the Council met and pronounced upon the situation. The committee appeared to agree with the Polish view and adjourned till Saturday, when it . will consider the report of the experts on the working of sanctions. LEAGUE COUNCIL TO MEET. The League Council will probably meet on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Meantime the formula drafted at Paris will be communicated to the Council members. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister, states that the co-ordination measures to be taken under Article 16 of the Covenant in connection with the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia are undertaken by a committee composed of all members of the League except Italy and Ethiopia. All members of this committee have concurred in the application of the measures so far decided upon with the exception of Austria, Hungary, Albania and Paraguay. The Governments of the first three of these countries have stated that they are unable to participate in the measures in question, while the Paraguayan Government has stated that it does not deem it desirable for the present to consider the resolution concerning them.