MOVE TO EXPEL SOVIET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21528, 15 December 1939, Page 7

MOVE TO EXPEL SOVIET

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY TO DECIDE

Argentine Presses For Penalty

Moral Forces Should Be Rallied British Official Wireless RUGBY, Dec. 13. Press reports from Geneva state that the Committee of Thirteen appointed by the Assembly to discuss the Finnish appeal, has adopted a report and a resolution recommending the expulsion of Russia from the League and assistance for Finland. The Committee’s decision will have to be placed before the Assembly.

The committee has appointed a subcommittee consisting of Bolivia, France, Portugal, England, and Sweden, to complete a draft report for the Assembly. This sub-committee unanimously adopted the draft resolution implying, but not specifically demanding, Russia's expulsion. China, who is seeking a seat, may oppose Russia's expulsion. Consequently, it is reported that the Assembly will elect only three new members, instead of five, until the RussianFinnish question is completed. They are Finland, South Africa and Bolivia.

The Argentine delegate (Senor Freyre) told the Assembly that unless Russia were ejected, the Argentine would resign from the League. Demanding the application of Paragraph 4 of Article XVI of the Covenant, he declared: “The question is whether we will continue to allow the perpetrator of this act of aggression to sit among us.

"My Government considers this impossible, Finland is not the first member State unjustifiably attacked, but the case is attended by such circumstances as compel my Government to pass the most severe judgment. The aggressor denied that she was at war, disdaining even the outward form of legality and therefore placing herself outside the Covenant. “We need no longer be restrained by a desire to act cautiously and weigh our responsibilities with the object of preserving peace. We are confronted by a state of war.” He said the League faced a decision concerning its life or death. The League had lost its coercive force, but was still capable of a gesture against those who resorted to force, which it could not refuse to make unless it were prepared to resign its functions in a spirit of suicidal defeat. Russia's invasion constituted an insult to every member of the League. Lack of Trust Because of the League’s recent weakness, there had grown up a tacit agreement to refrain from trusting it with important political activity. Not even Poland’s agony ruffled the League, although it was the origin of the conflagration. "If we wish to spare the world from the abyss opening before it. if we desire the rebirth of international law, it behoves us to discard material considerations and rally the moral forces which have fallen into oblivion.

By refusing to attend the league’s deliberations, the Soviet failed in one of the most essential responsibilities under the League for the guarantee of peace and security of nations. The Soviet acted as though the Council and the Assembly did not exist, as far as the Soviet was concerned. By attempting to justify its refusal by alleging that the League had established relations with a fictitious Government, the Soviet was not only guilty of violating one of its responsibilities under the Covenant ,but had placed itself outside the Covenant. Argentine’s proposal was referred to the committee without debate. The Moscow radio station, in a broadcast, attacked the League, and thus, for the first time, the Russian people were aware of the breach. It was claimed that the Finnish appeal was full of lies and Britain and France were also attacked. The Moscow radio claimed that trie method of election of the Leagues Russo-Finnish Committee was an "Anglo-French Manoeuvre” carried out by carefully selected anti-Soviet representatives of countries dependent on Anglo-French capital. A message from Rome states that the new Soviet Ambassador <M. Gorelink) left for Moscow. No reason was given

The British United Press reports that the Italian Ambassador to Moscow is shortly returning to Rome to receive instructions regarding Italian-Soviet relations.

According to a ater message the recommendations condemning the Soviet, which were i dopted by the Russo-Finnish Committee of the Assembly for submission to the Assembly to-morrow, must pass two re stages before they can be enforced—the Assembly debate and then deliberation by fu Council on possible means of theii application. The recommendations do not specifically demand Russia’s expulsion, but the English, French and Russian spokesmen agreed that expulsion was almost certain. M. Holsti, the Finnish delegate, commenting on the recommendations, said: “It would mean all or nothing. We shall wait and see.” Dr. Wellington Koo, when he saw the extent of the assistance promised to Finland, said that China got nothing like that.

CHANGE IN SWEDISH CABINET

New Foreign Minister Chosen United Pres? Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright STOCKHOLM, December 13. It hi reported that the Swedish Cabinet has been reconstructed on strictly neutral lines. The Foreign Minister (Mr R. J.

Sandler), who has shown pro-Finnish leanings, is not included. He has been replaced by Mr Guenther. The new Government’s policy will embrace all possible help for Finland in accordance with neutrality. In a statement explaining the omission of Mr Sandler from the Cabinet, t' e Premier (Dr Hansson) said that he had disagreed with Mr Sandler over the fortification of the Aaland Islands. Sweden’s foreign policy, he added, would be unchanged.

The new Cabinet does not favour direct intervention in Finland, and it has had a lukewarm reception from the Swedish newspapers. The Government, in a statement, declared: "We wifi give Finland human and material help, which has already spontaneously appeared, but will maintain neutrality." This is interpreted to mean that the Government will confirm the assistance of ambulances and relief funds, and is not hindering private unofficial help of other kinds. It is officially stated that Mr Sandler tendered his resignation on December 12, the day before the German attacks on him began. It is believed that Mr Sandler advocated the fortification of the Aaland Islands to which Dr Hansson was opposed.