“NO LONGER A MEMBER”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 8

“NO LONGER A MEMBER”

LEAGUE'S CONDEMNATION OF SOVIET MEMBERS CALLED ON TO ASSIST FINLAND COMMITTEE’S REPORT SUPPORTED BY BRITAIN * (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 15, 11.45 a.m.) GENEVA, Dec. 14 The League of Nations Council, at a private session, formulated the following draft resolution: “This council associates itself with the Assembly’s condemnation of Russia s action against Finland and finds, by virtue of Article 16, Paragraph 4, that the Soviet has thereby placed itself outside the Covenant of the League It therefore follows that the Soviet is no longer a member.”

The Council adopted the resolution with four absten tions, China, Finland, Greece and Yugoslavia.

The League of Nations Assembly this morning considered the report of the committee and the draft resolution condemning Russia for its aggression against Finland and calling upon members of the League to render such assistance to Finland as is within their power.

The speakers in the debate included Mr R. A. Butler, British Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who gave the full support of the United Kingdom delegation to the report and the resolution.

SOVIET CONDEMNED

VIOLATION OF TREATIES REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ASSISTANCE FOR FINLAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) GENEVA, Dec. 13 The special committee of the League of Nations, which has been considering Finland’s appeal against Russia, to-day adopted a resolution recommending Russia’s expulsion from the League. The committee has also recommended that the Powers assist Finland. The special committee appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Bolivia, France, Portugal, Britain and Sweden, to complete a draft report for the Assembly. The sub-committee, after a long debate, unanimously adopted the following draft resolution, implying, but not specifically demanding, Russia’s expulsion. (1) The Assembly finds that the Soviet, by its act of aggression against Finland, failed in its special political agreement with Finland, violated the Pact of Paris and also Article 12 of the League Covenant. The Soviet also denounced without justification the 1932 non-aggression treaty. Appeal to League Members The Assembly therefore condemns the Soviet’s action against Finland, and addresses a pressing appeal to every member to furnish Finland with all possible material and humanitarian assistance, and to abstain from all action which might weaken Finland’s powers of resistance. It also authorises the SecretaryGeneral to lend the League’s technical services for Finland’s assistance, and authorises the Secretary-General to consult non-member States with a view to future eventual collaboration. (2) By refusing to attend the League’s deliberations, the Soviet failed in one of its most essential responsibilities under the League for the guarantee of peace and security of nations. The Soviet has acted as though the Council and Assembly did not exist as far as the Soviet was concerned. By attempting to justify its refusal by alleging that the League has established relations with a fictitious Government, the Soviet was not only guilty of violating one of its responsibilities under the Covenant, but placed itself outside the Covenant. The resolution was placed before the League Assembly later. Two More Stages to be Passed The committee's recommendations must pass through two more stages before it can be enforced—the Assembly debate and then deliberation by the Council on possible means for their application. The recommendations do not specifically demand Russia's expulsion, but British, French and Russian spokesmen agreed that it is almost certain. The Finnish delegate, Dr. Rudolf Holsti, commenting on the recommendations, said: “They will mean all or nothing. We will wait and see.” The Chinese delegate, Dr. Wellington Koo, when he saw the extent of the assistance promised to Finland, said: ‘‘China got nothing like that.”

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT

FINNS FALLING BACK ADVANCE OF RED TROOPS MANY TOWNS ABLAZE {United rress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 15, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14 The British United Press’ Bergen correspondent says the Finns have fallen back within two miles of the Norwegian border. A message from Kirgenaes states that the Russians are rapidly approaching Salmijarvi, which the Finns are evacuating, falling back on defence lines further south. Five towns are ablaze, and a vast region is covered by black smoke. A violent Soviet offensive continues in Nortli Finland, accompanied by continuous bombing o£ the nickel centres at Kolochoki and Salmijarvi.

ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS

RUSSIAN ATTACKS

RUSSIA AS AGGRESSOR LEAGUE MEMBERS’ VIEWS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. CopyrlgTH;) (Received Dec. 15, 3.15 p.m.) GENEVA, Dec. 14 The League of Nations Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russia as an aggressor and asking members to aid Finland. The Scandinavian States, the Baltic States, China, Mexico, Bulgaria and Switzerland abstained from voting. Mr R. A. Butler said: “Britain is already taking steps to enable Finland to obtain war materials. The Assembly can rest assured that despite the heavy burden which the Empire and France are carrying in the major struggle for right and law Britain will not excuse herself from giving all possible assistance to Finland.” M. Deribes said France fully supported the proposal to aid Finland by all means. Senhor de Matta (Portugal) said aggression against Finland was a supreme crime and not only Finland was endangered. Manuel Telle (Mexico) objected to the procedure, but promised to abstain rather than block the expulsion of the Soviet. Barbarism and Chaos Sir Muhammad Khan (India) was loudly applauded when he declared: “Russian aggression is a monster, feeding on liberty. We must fight this monster together before it brings barbarism and chaos to the whole w orld.” M. William Pappard (Switzerland), said Switzerland was abstaining for the sole reason that she did not wish to affect her special neutrality within the League. Dr. Holsti expressed Finland’s profound gratitude. Defence of Principles At the League Council meeting Mr R. A. Butler said in his view the council had no alternative but to accept the resolution. He added that if they failed the whole world would doubt the reality of their convictions. Britain and France were fighting in defence o£ those principles which formed the foundation of the covenant.

UNLIMITED MAN-POWER DISREGARD OF LOSSES (United Press Assp.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 13 The unlimited manpower of Russia is beginning to strain the resources of the Finns, because the persistent attacks on all fronts, regardless of losses, necessitate a consequent switching of reserves, says the Helsinki correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The Finns mow down 100 Russians, but 1000 more appear. The greatest danger is in the Kutno sector, when the Finns are defending the country’s waist-line. They sadly lack artillery. The Russians have long been constructing strategic roads to the Kutno and Kola frontiers, and these permit of the speedy movement of artillery and tanks. It is estimated that 100,000 Russians are being hurled at Rovaniemi, but the Finns have recaptured Sella. The Finnish Air Force is concentrating its efforts on roads and railways in an endeavour to break up Russian reinforcements. Already they have achieved considerable transport chaos at Murmansk. The Finns routed the Russians at Tolvajarvi, near Lake Ladoga, and killed 2000 of the enemy, says a message from Stockholm. They are advancing a considerable distance. Into Russian Territory It >is reported from Helsinki that the Finns carried the war into Russian territory when they attacked in the direction of the Murmansk railway, in the central sector. The Moscow radio to-day stated: “Our troops advanced 65 miles from the frontier in the Kutno sector and also occupied Kitela. There was no air activity to-day, owing to the bad weather.”