LEAGUE EXPULSION

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 271, 15 December 1939, Page 3

LEAGUE EXPULSION

BAN ON SUVIET RECOMMENDED FULL ASSISTANCE TO FINLAND OPINION OF COMMITTEE OF THIRTEEN REPORT TO GO BEFORE ( ASSJSMI SHY ARGENTINE CENSURE OF AGGRESSOR LONDON, Dec. I’3. Press reports from Geneva state that the Committee of Thirteen appointed by the League Assembly to discuss the Finnish appeal has adopted the report and resolution recommending the expulsion of Russia from the League and assistance for Finland. The committee’s decision will have to be placed before the Assembly. The committee approved a sub-com-mittee consisting of representatives of Bolivia, France, Portugal, England, and Sweden to complete a (liralt report for the Assembly. This fnih-counniittco unanimously adopted a draft resolution implying, hut not specifically demanding, Russia’s expulsion. The Argentine delegate told the Assembly that unless Russia was ejected, Argentina would resign from the League. He demanded the application of paragraph four, article 16 of the ’covenant. lie declared; “’I lie question ts wether wo will continue to allow the perpetrator of this act of aggression to sit among us. My Government considers Lhis impossible. This'is not the first member State which has unjustifiable been "attacked!, but the ease is attended with such circumstances as compel my Government to pass the most .severe judgment. The aggressor has denied that she is at war, disdaining' even an outward form of legality and therefore placing herself outside the covenant. Wo need no longer he restrained by the desire to act-caut-iously and weigh our responsibilities with the object of preserving peace. We arc confronted by a state of war.”

Still Capable of Gesture. The Argentina delegate said that the League has lost its eocrsive force, but was still capable of a gesture against those who resorted! to force. I his gesture the League could not refuse to make unless it was prepared to resign its functions in a spirit ol suicidal defeat. Russia’s invasion constituted an insult to every member of the League. Because of the League’s recent weakness there had grown up a tactit agreement to refrain from entrusting it with important political activity. Not even Poland’s agony ruffled the League, although it was the origin of the conflagration. “If vve wish to spare the world from the abyss opening before it, if wo desire the rebirth of international law, it behoves us to discard material considerations and rally the moral forces which have fallen into oblivion,” be concluded. Argentina’s proposal was referred to the committee without debate. Finland, South Africa and Bolivia wore elected to the Council. The Moscow correspondent ol the British United Press states that the Soviet Prime .Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, rejected the League’s offer to mediate and accordingly sent a message to the ltussianFinnish committee. M. Molotov s reply to tho League was broadcast from Moscow at 1.30 n.m. It was the first Russian announcement ol the League’s offer of mediation.'

Suggestion of Withdrawal

Diplomatic circles in Moscow lorecast the Soviet’s early withdrawal from me League. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, Mir. G. E. It. Gcdyc, says that, the opinion in diplomatic circles in Russia is evenly divided on the question, as to wether the Soviet rulers will satisfy their ever-,sensitive feelings over the question of prestige by resigning Irom the League and thereby further compromising the liberty of action in respect to Germany, as Germany clearly hopes, or whether they will pocket their prestige for the sake of practical, advantages inherent in remaining in the League. It is thought that tlio resignation would bring nearer the formation of an antiSoviet world bloc, which is a nightmare always haunting the Soviet. Thus some feel that .Russia may submit to the rebuke and even see practical opposition to the Finnish adventure iu order to retain membership of tho League.