GENEVA'S TREATMENT OF MINORITIES CRITICISED.

Shannon News, 3 May 1929, Page 4

GENEVA'S TREATMENT OF MINORITIES CRITICISED.

DEFENCE OF SOVEREIGNTY. LONDON. The international conference on minorities of either race ,language or religion concluded a two-day session here, having criticised the methods of Geneve in dealing with these questions. Professor Rene Brunet, a delegate from Paris, explained the procedure which followed when a petition was submitted by the minorities for the redress of alleged grievances, said that petitions were generally acknowleged by the secretary of a committee, of three and that ris* all that is usually heard about it." At the final session Mr Wilson Harris, Great Britain, gave an account of the March League Council discussions on the minorit yproblem. ■ Referring to Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speech, Mr Harris remarked that while the British Foreign Minister was clear on the rights of minorities, he if anything, clearer on the rights of sovereignty. He had insisted on the need for minorities to come to the Council with clean hands. "We all know ■ tlrat cleanliness is next to godliness," observed Mr Harris, "but.if it comes to that, I think that some of the governments could do with a little soap and water." Quoting a statement by M. Aristide Briand, France, - showing that the number of petitions considered by the committees of three last year was comparatively small, Mr Harris said there were two explanations: Either there were far fewer complaints by minorities than was popularly supposed, or the seerc: t&riat which £he petitions before they werit before the committees were improperly suppressing many of them.

"I should refuse to accept the latter suggestion," he added,, "unless I received convincing proof 'of its truth. I know some members of the secretariat and they have told me that whenever there is any uncertainty as to the merits of the petition, the minority is given the benefit of the doubt. I think that a more likely explanation is thatthe minorities have become so discouraged ITy the non-results of previous, petitions that they are giving up sending them to Geneva."