PURGE IN LEAGUE CIRCLES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 9

PURGE IN LEAGUE CIRCLES

Indirect Attack on Soviet

Removal of Friends of the Left

Big Move Likely by Mr Chamberlain

RETURN TO GENEVA SOUGHT

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph -Copyright LONDON, October 28.

The Geneva correspondent of the British United Press confirms that something akin to a purge is going on in the League of Nations staff and it Is understood that other members, including highly-placed officials, will be asked to retire within a year. It is freely stated that a need for economy is the excuse for elimination from the Secretaryship of Left-Wingers. The abolition of the Under-Secretary Generalship is suggested to mean the elimination, or transfer of M. Vladmir Sokoline, the League’s only member from the Soviet. Mr Chamberlain’s Influence There is a definite impression in League circles that Mr Neville Chamberlain is preparing a long-range appeasement policy embracing arms limitation, economic accord and the creation of a permanent peace organisation giving the nations’ leaders an opportunity for direct contact on the lines of the Munich agreement, regarding which it is suggested that a reformed League may be the nucleus of the new organisation.

It is further understood that reform of the League envisages the amalgamation of the political, disarmament, mandates and minorities sections and involving the retirement of the present heads of those departments.

An official statement at Geneva regarding M. Hoden Marcel, declares that the League Assembly, having appointed a committee to work out economics, the Secretary-General (M. Avenol) decided to give an example and suppress the employment of a chief secretary.