LEAGUE COVENANT

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 9

LEAGUE COVENANT

DETACHMENT FROM TREATY OF VERSAILLES FAVOURED CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, September 29, “Any decision to participate in a •war must be taken in the Canadian Parliament,” declared Mr Mackenzie King in the Assembly. Canada was not prepared to apply sanctions automatically in all disputes, and favoured detachment of the Covenant from the Treaty of Versailles. AUSTRALIA’S REFORM PROPOSALS. CANBERRA, September 30. {Received September 30, at 11 a.m.) Australia’s proposals for reform ot the League of Nations Covenant were explained to the House of Representatives by the Attorney-General (Mr Menzies). The Commonwealth suggests automatic operation against an aggressor State of sanctions prohibiting the export of arms, munitions, and raw materials used for military purposes, or alternatively prohibiting all exports to an aggressor. Refusal of loans and credit, and the prohibition of imports from an aggressor are also suggested. Non-member States, particularly the United States, Germany, and Japan should be consulted before the League amends the Covenant. GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 29. (Received September 30, at noon.) Mr S. M. Bruce (Australia), the Aga Khan (India), and Mr W. J. Jordan (New Zealand) were among the speakers who continued the general debate in the League Assembly at Geneva. Mr Bruce said the Assembly should respond wholeheartedly to the lead given by Britain, tho United States, and France in their recent monetary agreement. Exchange controls, tariffs, quotas, and other trade restrictions had led to much economic unrest, and the opportunity was now present' for solving these problems. The Aga Khan said that to condemn the League after 16 years of its short life .because they had learnt that men and nations were imperfect was as foolish as to condemn all philosophies and all religions because of the present state ox the world.

Mr Jordan criticised failure by the League to apply sterner measures in support of the Covenant during the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. Sanctions had to be immediate and effective. New Zealand was prepared to do its part in making collective security a reality.