ALMOST CERTAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 8

ALMOST CERTAIN

EXPULSION OF RUSSIA FROM THE LEAGUE REPORT BY COMMITTEE. UNQUALIFIED DENUNCIATION OF AGGRESSION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright GENEVA. December 14. The committee of 13 which was appointed by the League Assembly to discuss the Finnish appeal last night adopted a report and resolution recommending, in effect, the expulsion of Russia from the League and assistance for Finland. The resolution condemns Russia for having attacked Finland, and appeals to every member to give Finland every assistance, and offers Finland the technical services of the League. In her attitude, Russia is described as having' failed in one of her most essential responsibilities to the League and as having placed herself outside the Covenant. The committee's recommendations must pass two more stages before they can be enforced —an Assembly debate tomorrow and then deliberation by the League Council on possible means of their application. The recommendations do not specifically demand Russia's expulsion, but English, French, and Russian spokesmen are agreed that that is almost certain. The report and recommendations were prepared bj' a sub-committee consisting of Bolivia. France. Portugal-, England and Sweden, and it was unanimously adopted. The Moscow Radio claims that the method of election of the League's Russo-Finnish Committee was an "Anglo-French manoeuvre” carried out by carefully selected anti-Soviet representatives of countries dependent on British and French capital. The Finnish delegate, Dr Holsti, commenting on the recommendations, said, "It would mean all or nothing. We shall wait and see."

The Chinese delegate. Dr Wellington Koo, when he saw lhe extent of the assistance promised to Finland, said. "China got nothing like that."

TEXT OF THE REPORT. The text of the report and recommendations, is as follows:— "1. The Assembly finds that the Soviet, by its act of aggression against Finland, has failed in its special political agreement with Finland and violated the Pact of Paris and also Article XII of the League Covenant. The Soviet has also denounced without justification the 1932 Non-Agression Treaty 1 . “The Assembly therefore condemns the Soviet for its action against Finland and addresses, a pressing appeal to every member to furnish Finland with all possible material and humanitarian assistance, and to abstain from all action that might weaken Finland’s powers of resistance. It authorises the Sec-retary-General of the League to lend the League's technical services for assistance to Finland and authorises the Secretary-General to consult non-member States with a view to future eventual collaboration. 2. By refusing to attend the League’s deliberations the Soviet has failed in one of the most essential responsibilities under the League for guarantee of the peace and security of nations. The Soviet has acted as. though the Council and the Assembly do not exist as. far as the Soviet is concerned. By attempting to justify its refusal by alleging that the League has established relations with a fictitious Government, the Soviet is not only guilty of violating one of its responsibilities under the Covenant but has placed itself outside the Covenant.” During general business this morning Finland. South Africa and Bolivia were elected members of the League Council. Special seats occupied by China and Latvia were ensured t>y presidential announcement, but they will have to be re-elected specially. This will probably be done today.

PROFOUND SYMPATHY EXPRESSED SY BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS. FINLAND'S EFFORT AGAINST ODDS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 13. On behalf, of the British Group of the Parliamentary Union, the secretary has sent a letter to the president of the Finnish group making to their comrades and colleagues- of the Finnish group of the union a heartfelt expression of profound sympathy in the tragic and unequal contest which has been forced on them. FULL BRITISH SUPPORT GIVEN TO COMMITTEE REPORT. CONDEMNATION OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, December 14. The League of Nations Assembly this morning considered the report of the Committee of 13 and the draft of its resolution condemning Russia for its aggression against Finland and calling upon members of the League to render such assistance to Finland as was within their power. Speakers in the debate included Mr R. A. Butler, the British Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs, who gave the full support of the United Kingdom delegation to the report and resolution. COUNCIL DECISION

APPROVAL OF ASSEMBLY'S ACTION. I SOVIET NO LONGER A MEMBER. (Received This Day 10.5 a.m.) GENEVA. December 14. The League Council, at a private session. formulated the following draft resolution: — "The Council associates itself with the Assembly’s condemnation nf Russia’s action against Finland and finds virtue in Article 16, Paragraph 4. The Soviet thereby placed itself outside the Covenant of the League and therefore it follows that the Soviet is no longer a member.” The Council adopted the resolution with four abstentions, namely. Chinn. I Finland. Greece, and Yugoslavia. j

ASSEMBLY SPEECHES

VIGOROUS CONDEMNATION OF RUSSIA. FINLAND PROMISED AID. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) GENEVA, December 14. The League Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russia as an aggressor and asking members to aid Finland. The Scandinavian States, the Baltic States, China, Mexico, Bulgaria and Switzerland abstained from' voting. Mr R. A. Butler said Britain was already taking steps to enable Finland io obtain war materials. The Assembly could rest assured that despite the heavy burden the Empire and France were carrying in a major struggle for right and law, Britain would not excuse herself from giving all possible assistance to Finland. M. Deribes said France fully supported the proposal to aid Finland by all means. The Portuguese delegate, Senor Dcmatta, said aggression against Finland was a supreme crime and not only Finland was endangered. Senor Manuel Tello (Mexico) objected to the procedure but prbmiscd lo abstain rather than block expulsion. Sir Muhammad Khan (India) was loudly applauded when he said:— "Russian aggression is a monster feeding on liberty. We must fight this monster together before it brings barbarism and chaos on the whole world." M. William Pappard (Switzerland) said his country was abstaining for the sole reason that it did not wish to affect its special neutrality within the League. Dr Holsti expressed Finland's profound gratitude.