FUTILE ARGUMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 375, 8 June 1928, Page 9

FUTILE ARGUMENT

POLAND AND LITHUANIA VALDEMARAS ADAMANT (United P.A.~—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) GENEVA, Wednesday. For many hours to-day the Council of the League of Nations argued with the representatives of Lithuania, who stubbornly resisted the unanimous desire of the other members for a settlement of the dispute between Poland and Lithuania. M. Beelaerts van Blokland (Holland) reported that no progress had been made with the negotiations, owing to the attitude of the Lithuanian delegate. Professor Valdemaras, Premier and Foreign Minister of Lithuania, in defending his action, alleged that armed bands from Poland were still threatening Lithuania. Also, he said, Poland had refused to accept the assistance of the League toward a settlement. The Polish Foreign Minister, Mr. August Zaleski, denied both these assertions. Sir Austen Chamberlain, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed disappointment at the failure of the negotiations. He said Lithuania’s recent claim to Vilna as her capital was contrary to the desires of the Council. He urged Professor Valdemaras to come to a peaceful settlement by September. The sitting would lose the Council’s sympathy. Other members joined in the appeal. Professor Valdemaras was the solitary opponent of a motion in favour of a settlement by September. The sitting was then adjourned to enable further negotiations to be carried out.