NOT GETTING OUT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 31 May 1923, Page 7

NOT GETTING OUT.

GENERAL SMUTS AND LEAGUE. CABLE—PRESS ASSN.-—COPYRIGHT (.Received 11.35 p.m., Alay 30.) Capetown, Alay 30. Replying to a motion in tfie Senate by ex-President Reitz that the Union of South Africa should give notice of withdrawal from the League oi Nations, General Smuts said that the League had little to do with the Peace Treaty nor was it formed to carry out the treaty. Its purpose was to deal with international troubles, which might arise in future. Replying to a question as to why the League had not interfered in the Ruhr situation, General Smuts said that it had no locus standi. The Ruhr was a matter for a Council of the Powers. He had instructed tlio Union delegates at the recent conference to see whether the question could not be dealt with, and on the initiative of his Government a resolution was passed that the League should offer its services, if invited. An invitation. was not made, and nothing further was done. The Premier continued that the Government had no intention of getting out of the League, as it believed the future peace of South Africa was bound up in it. The day might come when South Africa would want the help of the League, “And,” concluded General Smuts, “for the sake of the yearly contribution don’t let us cut off from the rest of the world, but •bear our share of the burden.’ The motion was withdrawn.