LEAGUE IN ACTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19440, 28 October 1925, Page 7

LEAGUE IN ACTION

FIRST SERIOUS TEST \ STRICT ORDERS TO GREECE AND BULGARIA PROMPT AND UNANIMOUS DECISION OTTO SATISFACTION The Council of the League of Nations has acted quickly in regard to the Greco-Bulgarian trouble. In a severely-worded resolution it has set a time limit within which hostilities must cease. In the face of conflicting reports, the Council has sent independent investigators to learn the true state of affairs. The testing of the League of Nations’ power to prevent war will be watched with interest. By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.

LEAGUE TAKES ACTION CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES ORDERED. ALLIED OFFICERS TO INVESTIGATE FACTS. Beceived Oct. 27, 5.5 p.m. (Reuter) PARIS, Oct. 26. M. Briand presided over a specially ■ convoked meeting of the Council of the League of Nations, at which Mr Chamberlain represented Britain, to investigate tho Greco-Bulgarian dispute. Tho chairman referred to conflicting reports, and in a statement said there were two distinct questions. One, of urgency, concerned tho cessation of hostilities and tho withdrawal of troops to their own territory. Tho other involved tho ascertainment of facts and the fixing of responsibility for reparation payable, which would take time. Replying to M. Briand, the Bulgarian Minister at Paris said Bulgaria invaded Greece, while the Greek Minister at Paris said Greece would evacuate Bulgarian territory when the Bulgars withdrew from Greece. After hearing the Greeo-Bulgarian representatives, tho Council announced that it was not satisfied that milithry operations had ceased, and requested both S.tates to acquaint it within twenty-four hours that their Governments unconditionally ordered- troops to withdraw behind national frontiers, and within sixty hours to give assurances that all troops would bo so withdrawn, all hostilities ceased and all troops warned that on resumption of firing they would be severely punished. The Council requested France, Britain and Italy to direct their officers within reach immediately to proceed to the scene of conflict and report when troops worn withdrawn and hostilities eeased, and in tiny case, to report at the expiration of the aforesaid time limit.

Bulgaria and Greece were requested to facilitate in every way the carrying out of of these officers’ mission.

DECISION WELL CONSIDERED A SEVERE RESOLUTION. PROMPT DECISION GIVES SATISFACTION. Received October 27, 8.5 p.m. (Reuter). PARIS, Oct. 26. The League Council privately deliberated for an hour before announcing the Greco-Bulgarian decision. This was embodied in a resolution drawn up by Mr Chamberlain, the terms of which were first privately communicated to the disputants in view of their severity.

The resolution emphasised the gravity of the action, and stated that" it would be intolerable and an affront to civilisation for such incidents to lead to warlike operations, instead of submitting them to the Council. The League would always safeguard the honour and interests of nations whose differences it was called on to settle. The time limits run from to-night. The Council will meet again to-morrow. Satisfaction is felt that the Council so speedily reached a unanimous decision. BOMBARDMENT CASUALTIES. A SUBSTANTIAL LIST. FIVE WOMEN AMONG THE KILLED Received October 27, 11.5 p.m. (Reuter). SOFIA, Oct. 26. As a result of the Greek bombardment, twenty-six Bulgarian soldiers and twenty-four civilians, including five women, were killed or wounded. Eleven soldiers are missing, and it is believed they are killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.