MAY JOIN LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20311, 22 May 1934, Page 1

MAY JOIN LEAGUE.

Russian Overtures at Geneva. United Press Assn.—By Electric 'Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 21. The diplomatic correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph ” says that Russia' inclination to join the League of Nations bids fair to become a major issue in European diplomacy. On account of her fear of Japan on the one hand and of Germany on the other Russia hopes that as a member of the League she will gain moral and diplomatic support, particularly against Germany France desires to bring Russia into the League in order to strengthen antiGerman elements, France holding that Moscow’s membership at Geneva would help to justify an indirect alliance between France, Russia Czechoslovakia and certain Baltic powers. M. Litvinoff, Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, who is at present at Geneva, believes that Russia will derive political prestige by joining the League at the moment when Japan and Germany have withdrawn. Moscow, however, is more intent up ,n the arrangement of a pact of mutual guarantees than membership in the League, hence M. Litvinoff is anxious to submit a plan for a pact to the Disarmament Conference immediately, instead of awaiting for the meeting of the League Assembly in September. M. Litvinoff will certainly fail to make the pact comprehensive, as Britain, Italy and Poland are not going to make themselves responsible for the defence of Soviet frontiers. Belgium, Yugoslavia and Rumania are simply doubtful. Indeed, some of France's allies are alarmed that she may be saddled with the liability to defend the Soviet frontiers and even the question of Russia’s suitability for League membership is arousing controversies.