BREEZE AT GENEVA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 234, 2 October 1929, Page 10

BREEZE AT GENEVA

LABOUR OFFICE METHODS BRITISH ELECTION ECHO GENEVA, Sept. 1?. The defeat by Mr W. 8. Sanders, M.P. (Labour), of Mr S e Saklatvala. tho Parsec Communist for tho Battersea (London) seat at the last genera) election in Britain was recalled in a heated debate by the Budget Committee of the League of Nations. M. Hambro (Sweden) severely criticised M. Albert Thomas, director of the Labour Office, for granting leave to enable Mr Sanders, who was then an official in the office to take part in the election. M. Thomas indignantly replied that he could not prevent officials spending a holiday in their o- countries, ever if they utilised the opportunity t< fight elections. M. Hambro further accused M Thomas of indulging in Socialist pro paganda when he declared t’ - x th< success of Socialism in various coun tries was the League’s sole guarantee. M. Thomas should choose between an office requiring impartiality and political activities. M t Thomas replied, that ho did not allow his opinions to influence his activities at Geneva. He would not hesitate to appeal to the Pope or to the devil if he thought either would help the Labour Office. M. Hambro retorted amid laughter: “Do n- go to the devil, or you will not be able to go to the Pope.” The British Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. H. Dalton, further smoothed the atmosphere by emphasising that the British Government was strongly supporting the Labour Office