LEAGUE OR CHAOS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1933, Page 5

LEAGUE OR CHAOS

TWO ALTERNATIVES

SOLVING EUROPE’S FUTURE

(Per British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, December 12. Mr Avenol (Secretary-General of the League of Nations) addressed tile members of ail political parties in the Commons committee room. Sir Austen Chamberlain was in the chair. M. Avenol made a vigorous reply to the critics of the League, tie said that the alternative before the world was not a- choice between the League and some better system, but between the League and almost complete chaos. The chief cause of the' crisis in the

League affairs was the problem of disarmament, which was purely a European matter.

It was to be regretted that the responsibility for the failure of the great powers to reach an understanding on this question should be laid at the door of the League. Wliilo the work and methods of the League ’must not become (stereotyped; any changes must be made from inside. He said that the general structure of the covenant represented the minimum obligations, without which no effective international co-operation could exist, and the League was the only practical measure taken by the human race to establish the rule of law in the relationship of countries.

In accordance with the decision taken by the Disarmament Conference Bureau, “parallel and supplementary efforts” are being undertaken by various Governments through diplomatic channels. The British Government Is in close touch with Paris, Berlin and Rome, and is encouraging bilateral conversations. It is emphasised that the present situation* will not be cleared up by an isolated pronouncement from any quarter, as the whole purpose is to seek the best possible basis upon which the work at Geneva could be . resumed with prospects of achieving something positive.