BEFORE THE LEAGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1939, Page 7

BEFORE THE LEAGUE

FINLAND’S APPEAL AGAINST AGGRESSION ALLIES SAID TO PROMISE FULL SUPPORT. THE ATTITUDE OF NEUTRALS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON December !). The League Council, states a Geneva message, met privately this morning to consider the agenda and adjourned till the (‘veiling session, which is also private. At the reqiiesl of Dr Ilolsli. Finnish representative. who pleaded th;il he required more lime to prepare his case, the entire ease is being presented Io the Assembly on Monday. The Council decided that the Finnish appeal should be the only business of the Council and Assembly. The session will be public.

This morning’s session lasted 40 minutes. It was preceded by a secret session, which lasted 75 minutes. Dr Holsti called on the leader of the British delegation, Mr R. A. Butler. The latter also received Dr Wellington Koo, who later called on the Russian. M Bouritz. China faces a delicate position, having to decide how to vote on an issue affecting a nation, hitherto her biggest supplier of arms in the Chinese-Jap-anese conflict. The absence of the Russian League Under-Secretary M Sokoline, from the private session of the League Council may indicate a Soviet boycott. Mr Gedye, Moscow correspondent of lhe "New York Times." says a number of foreign missions, including those of Britain and France, will not be surprised if the Soviet breaks relations with countries voting against Russia at the League of Nations meetings.

Finland’s Note to the League says .hat the Russians are using poison gas.

The Geneva correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that the Allies have decided to back the appeal as far as Finland cares to push it.

The Geneva representative of the British United Press states that Latin American delegates are understood to be unanimously supporting Uruguay s threat to resign unless Russia is expelled. A clear majority for expulsion is apparent. A Dublin message says that IVIr de Valera is unable to attend the League meeting. Mr Frank Cremins. permanent delegate, represents Eire. The Dutch Government has issued a statement that though it is impossible to say what line Holland will adopt at Geneva, she believes it is her duty to attend. The Oslo signatories held the same view. The Government, however. “considers the League, as at present composed, lacks authority to act as leader in international action against aggression. It can. therefore, be expected that, though Holland might co-operate in denouncing aggression. she will be unwilling to participate in sanctions in any form against a country which might be denounced as an aggressor."

The Dutch Government decided not to accept candidature for a vacant seat on the League Council, considering it. undesirable that there should be a possibility of Belgium and Holland being represented while there was no Scandinavian representation.

Daventry reports that the Parliament of Finland has appealed for the help of all civilised nations. The appeal states that Finland has,been the victim of brutal and unprovoked aggression from her Eastern neighbour and was defending all that civilised people held sacred. So far they were fighting alone and their struggle was for all that humanity held precious. The Finnish appeal to the League of Nations is to be considered at tomorrow's session of the Assembly, the Soviet’s objection that the Finnish Government was not representative of the people having been overruled.

APPEAL TO WORLD ACTIVE HELP WANTED. FINLAND THE ADVANCE GUARD OF CIVILISATION. (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) HELSINKI. December 10. Finland has officially appealed to the world for assistance. The speaker of the Diet has addressed a proclamation to all civilised nations declaring that Finland, as the advance guard of Western civilisation, had a right to expect active help from other civilised countries. He added that Finland so far had been fighting alone for all that is sacred. but that he did not believe the civilised world, which already had given testimony of its sympathy would leave her to her fate in face of a more numerous enemy.