LEAGUE SITTING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1932, Page 5

LEAGUE SITTING

DE VALERA’S VIEWS Mot hostile to empire. ' ‘ (United Presn Association—Py Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) . , / . LONDON, Sept. 28. I The Australian Press Association’s Geneva correspondent, iu •' an' exclusive interview with Mr Do Valera, estates that Mr De Valera expressed Surprise at the persistence of A/belief iu some quarters that any action' taken by hi? Government would affect the people of Irish birth or descent living in Australia or other Dominions. Though reetrongii Irish sentiment tn Australia, Mr De ’Valera insisted that they/ : as Australians citizens, could not possibly bo affected by the policy of liis Government any r more than Irish-born people ' living in America I 'or .the Continent. Deferring to the Anglo-Irish' dispute [le said lie still hoped .that a ; satisfactory ablution would be found in'' order to remove the present discriminatory tariffs between Britain and’ Ireland; It was the policy of his Government to maker the Free State more self-eup-portlhg. vV : v "If wte go outside 'the British Commonwealth of Nations (Mr De Valera sanefully avoided using the word '’empire*") we don’t pretend that Irish trade will become any easier, but as it is almost entirely with Britain, we cannote see the Dominions will be affect- : sd either'way. Mr De Valera Smiled and ebook his head when asked about the development oif the Government’i present policy. "It is not '• for -me to forecast the Free State’s intentions regarding departing from the Commonwealth of Nations, but we as a Government have obligations to pur people, to whom we gave certain pledges, ■ including the abolition of the oath of allegiance, and obtaining . justice ■ over the land Annuities and otiher payments. Whether we go beyond those steps is for a future government to decide)’)' ■' ■ He said that he m'et foreign and Dbminion 'statesmen at Geneva, including Mr Hughes, a't the Canadian luncheon to-day, bait his position as President of the League Council prevented his dismissing internal affaire.' Press Association’s Qefieva ooirrespondent- states: ThA Assembly reopened in more cheerful mood, ‘me 11-iliv.ian ,and Palraguhyafi delegates, while each . maintaining : thp rightfulness of their v own eiuse;'. declared a willingness to accept the League’s arbitration'in the Gran Chaeb dispute. Thus an 4hrly sitqp was taken to prorre from the 'exhortations of Mr De Valera imd M(T Hilghe:#, thfe League prove itself in the" eyes 6f the world a teal kedfer. of peace.^ M. Politis announced that it was d«ckMi to leave the numdatea ln the political nominee#’ hands, : i i l What promises ’to become this most porttrorersial question, European union shortly comes before the Political Committee, and is tkiely to meet " with criticism from the Dominions which resent the League’s tendency to become purely a European body on economic matters.' " ” ' Y The ‘ Press Association’s special Geneva correspondent slays: Mr Osborne (Australia) has been- appointed Vice President of the Asrombly’s spep ial questions committee. The subjects include child welfare, traffic in women and children, dangerous drugs, and penal reform, which Mr, Osborne *s. particularly fitted to discuss.; - Special Commonwealth interest attaches'to itlio fommittee, Mr Duncan Hail is director of the League’s. fwganis?tion. dealing with the drug traffic. Mr Usborne also conducts Australia’s work in connection with securing .women’s cooperation in the' League’s ( activities. The Budget Committee, , on which Sir T. M. Wilford represents New Zealand, hut Australian, representation is thus far lacking, commenced work. M. HERRIOTT’S VIEWS LORD CECIL’S OPTIMISM. (Received .this day at 9.25 a.m) GENEVA', September 29. M. Herriott at the League Assembly, replynig to Mr de Valera, said: Prance refused to share Geneva’s pessimism. She yva.s confident the League’s future disarmament problem was too grave to be rushed They, were trying to establish international peace. He believed the proper interpretation of article eight would effectively guarantd? peace! iLord Cecil followed, criticising "a wanting the League to fail.’’ ani urered serious economies in expendit;mi. Npthing was wrong with the League's mechanism, but members 'there seemed to he weakening in the desire for peace an inclination for war. ot the covenant would . solve , the real troubles. Seventy-five* per ’cent, 'of the world’s unrest at,..the . end of the dispute (was settled.