LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 72, 22 September 1930, Page 9

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

AUSTRALIA'S FAITH

MR. SCULLIN AT GENEVA

GENEVA, 20th September.

Mr. J. H. Seullin, the Commonwealth. Prime Minister, addressing the Disarmament Committee, reaffirmed the faith of the Government and the people of Australia in tho aims and achievements of the League of Nations.

Many believed the League was making insufficient progress towards disarmament, '' but,'' Mr. Scullin - said, "we must give credit for the success achieved. While I realise the immense difficulties, both technical and political, facing the proposed Disarmament Conference, we should be able to look forward to greater progress. The cost 3of armaments are an over-hoavy loan for people who are burdened already with excessive taxation to meet the colossal cost of war. Unless civilisation is to stand still, we must take full advantage of the means available of settling international differences by law instead of by war, which is a barbarous method."

Mr. Seullin 's speech was made in the course of a debato on the proposed Convention for financially aiding any country which was tho victim of aggression. Mr. Scullin declared that the Australian Government strongly supported the principles of the proposed Convention, subject to two conditions—firstly, the provisions should not operate till a general Disarmament Treaty was signed; secondly, the liability of the guarantors should be limited to tho share assigned to them in the draft Convention.

Mr. Scullin, in passing, joined in an appeal to delegates to accept compromises in the wording of the Convention in order to obtain general ratification.