SAFETY VALVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 18, 22 January 1935, Page 5

SAFETY VALVE

LEAGUE ACHIEVEMENT YUGOSLAVIAN DISPUTE PRAISE FOR MR. EDEN LONDON, Dec. 15. The settlement of the Yugoslav-Hun-garian dispute is generally regarded at Geneva as one of the most important achievements of the League. The supreme virtue of the Council of the League as a safety valve for national passions was amply vindicated by the meetings. When the representatives of the Little Entente and Hungary, eath with their supporting Powers, excited and exhausted themselves in charge and countercharge, those present in Geneva wore left with a feeling of thankfulness that such an accumulation of suspicion and bitterness could be brought into the light of day and allowed to evaporate in harmless oratory before it gave rise to irrevocable deeds. If the resentmnts and antagonisms which inspired some of the speeches on both sides had been allowed to simmer beneath the surface instead of being publicly declared, then, it seemed, an explosion in Europe would have been a question only of weeks, if not of davs.

Mr. Anthony Eden and the “neutral” speakers—Dr. de Madariaga was one— who followed him showed no indication to take the justice of the Yugoslav charges for granted, and to fasten sole responsibility without more ado on Hungary, writes The Times correspondent. The result was to produce, not a general feeling of satisfaction that the council had shown itself able and willing to take an impartial view, but a state of extreme tension in quarters where it had been assumed beforehand that a large majority would join in the condemnation of the accused. It was even rumoured that one of the parties to the accusation, whose representatives would find themselves in difficulties at home if they failed to get satisfaction at Geneva, might withdraw from tthe Court. Mr. Eden, more concerned with the ominous events in Central Europe than with oratorical manoeuvring for position within the council, achieved that rough justice which can be measured by the equal disappointment nf excessive expectations on both sides. Mr. Eden's Speech. Mr. Eden’s claim to a. certain detachment from the immediate issues of the Hungarian-Yugoslav dispute was appreciated as it deserved, and his refusal to treat the case of either party otherwise than on its merit, though not wholly pleasing to some of his audience,'did something to steady the Council in its judicial role and to calm the passions which the opening speeches in the discussion had so evidently roused. The principal points made by Mr. Eden wore the following: °We have had ourselves in our history an extensive experience of the treatment of inhabitants of other countries who have sought refuge on our shores. None the less, we have suffered relatively little anxietv from the abuse by such persons of the asylum offered them.

“T feel some difficulty in forming any opinion as to the responsibilities for the tragic, events which have occurred while the trial of those charged with being concerned in the assassinations in Marseilles has not vet taken place. A number of individuals who are believed to he either principals accomplices. or accessories are, T understand at this moment under detention. Proceedings are still sub judice in France, where, the crime was committed, and in these circumstances it is incumbent upon us to proceed with extreme caution.

“The personal liberty, the freedom of action of the individual citizen, is at once my country’s proudest boast and her most cherished tradition. You will not, therefore, expect me to utter any phrase in criticism of privileges which every Englishmen holds dear. It is this same tradition which has governed our attitude towards the right of asylum and which bas led us for many centuries in our history to extend a welcome to those who have sought refuge among us. Liberty, Not Licence. “Our love of liberty, however, has not led us to confuse liberty with licence, and His Majesty’s Government do not tolerate in territories under their jurisdiction the abuse o’f personal freedom which consists in employing or advocating the employment of illegal or violent action against constituted authority whether at home or abroad. “The members of the council will appreciate the heavy responsibility that lies upon us not to extend, but strictly to circumscribe, the limits of this question. We must rigidly exclude in the discussions of these two days any tendency to introduce into the subject whi‘ch is before us matters which have for long past caused differences of opinion between nations, but which do not immediately rise in the documents before us. This must be, firmly rtsisted.

“I do not Conceal from the council that certain of the reports which I have, recently received give cause for anxiety. There is a heavy responsibility upon all of us at this council table not to allow local conditions to deteriorate while we are, seeking here to secure a solution of the question before us.” » The resolution which was finally adopted pronounces a general condemnation of acts of terrorism, insists on the punishment of the individuals responsible for the. Marseilles murders, and convoys an indication that there may have been dereliction of duty on the part of Hungarian officials. Expulsions Revoked. The action taken by Yugoslavia to expel Hungarians from their country created an unfavourable atmosphere for the opening of the debate. Fortunately. the Government at Belgrade not merely revoked the general o r dcr of expulsion which it had drafted against all Hungarian citizens in Yugoslavia; it also suspended the special deportation of some two or thicc thousand Hungarians which was in process of being carried out. The expulsions appear to have been of a brutal and drastic nature, but neither so brutal nor so extensive as was first reported. In Geneva itself an encouraging point was that the representatives of France and Italy were working together with equal devotion for a ptaceful solution, although in the first part of the debate before, the council they had taken opposite views. M. Laval had openly espoused the case of

Yugoslavia, Baron Aloisi that of Hungary. The League Council's resolution was received with acclamation in the Yugoslav Press, always uniformly inspiied by the official Press Department. The Government’s own organs (writes The Times correspondent) Vreme ami Novosti, display such headlines as “Hungarian Capitulation” and “Hungary under rhe Supervision of the League,” and the claim that Yugoslavia has obtained full and honourable satisfaction for the murder of King Alexander is given prominence in the Press as a whole. The exaggerations in flic headlines and articles may be excused if they succeed in convincing the general public that Yugoslavia bas obtained just and genuine satisfaction for the Marseilles crime. Tributes to Mr. Eden. Tn Hungary, too, the news of agreement was received with sighs of relief. The agreement is described as a really sound one which, while it satisfies Yugoslav feeling, saTeguards the dignity of this country.

Graceful tributes are paid to Baron Ailosi, the Italian delegate, for having faithfully upheld the cause of Hungary and to Mr. Eden for the calm, good sense, unfailing ta’ct, humanity, and unerring political judgment with which he fulfilled the conciliator’s delicate mission. He has been hailed as the real hero of the day and the hope is expressed that the brilliant success lately scored in the field of international politics will induce Great Britain to take a more active interest, in Continental problems to the benefit of I everybody concerned I ' r=-_