1938-02-02 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 2, 1938.

Page

REFORM OF THE LEAGUE Lord Cranborne's Report To Be Sent To Assembly GENERAL OPPOSITION| BIRMINGHAM

TO MEDDLING WITH

ARTICLE XVI

Geneva, To-day.

No definite results are to be expected from the ses- sion of the committee of 28, which has been charged with examining the question of League reform.

The British delegation is expected to propose that the declarations drawn up by the committee be submitted to the governments of the various

LEAVES FOR HONG KONG

London, Toy

H.M.S. Birmingham left Ports- mouth yesterday for the China Station on her maiden commission under the command of Captain E. J. P. Brind.

She is the first of the new 9,000- ́ton cruisers to be sent to the Far

Fast-Reuter,

U.S. NAVAL VISIT TO SINGAPORE

London, To-day.

The "Daily Telegraph," in a leading article this morning on the opening of the Singapore naval base, says "It is entirely a happy circumstance that that notable oc- casion will be further signalised by

nations represented at Geneva before the ques- NEW CHIEF OF the visit of three cruisers of the

tion of reform be further dealt with.

During yesterday's sessión, the been made effective. Polish delegate said that though "The blood being shed in Spain universality of the League should to-day, is being shed because the be the ultimate aim, the actual sitna-powers held back from fulfilling the tion should above all be taken into terms of the Covenant,' he declar- consideration.

ed.

revise

OBJECTIVE ACTION

the

NAVAL STAFF

London, To-day. Admiral Sir Roger Backhouse has been appointed Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Chief of Naval Staff, in succession to Admiral Lord Chatfield, to date about September,

1938.

The Argentine delegate stressed "Whoever seeks` to the necessity of universality of the Covenant is merely seeking to bring League, and referred to Lord Cran-about its downfall." borne's report, particularly those

Admiral Lord Chatfield served as passages speaking of universality. The Mexican delegate, said that First Sea Lord for five years, and COORDINATION OF COVENANT if no decision had been reached in is continuing in this office for an He said the time was not yet the Far Eastern conflict, it was be-additional period at the express wish ripe for reform of the League Cove-cause no objective action had been of the Government-Reuter. nant, but it would nevertheless be taken to proclaim Japan the aggres- as well to lay down rules for resor-Trans-Ocean,

form.

He suggested coordinating of the League Covenant with the Kellogg Pact and the Buenos Aires Agree ment, and of inviting new members to take part. Trans-Ocean.

SPATE OF ORATORY

Geneva, To-day.

CHINA AND RUSSIA

Geneva, To-day.' Both Dr. Wellington Koo (China) and M. Maxim Litvinoff (Russia) agreed in the committee of 28 yes- terday that Article XVI of the Cove- nant should not only be retained

|but' reinforced.

There was a spate of oratory in

Dr. Koo said he knew from his the committee of twenty-eight own experience that the Covenant yesterday.

had never been drawn up with

COLONY MARKETS

London, To-day.

Mr. H. C, H, Bull, until recently London representative of the Kenya Coffee Board, has now assumed duty as Secretary to the new Colonial Empire Marketing Board. → British Wireless.

M Paul Boncour (France) view to its universal character, and strongly defended the principles of emphasised that it was wrong to lieve that it would be necessary that collective security and Article XVI, attribute all the failures of the all States members should apply the and strongly pleaded for intangi-League to its want of universality Covenant. bility of the provisions of the or to the shortcomings of Article Covenant.

Senor del Vayo (Spain) said that Spain, though disappointed at its treatment by the League, favoured maintenance of the entire Covenant."

CANADA'S VIEW

The Canadian Government re- presentative said that Canada favoured every practical effort to attain substantial universality of the League.

Lord Cranborne, (Britain), summing up, said that on all sides there had been evidence of continued attachment to the principles of the Covenant, and he was convinced of belief in the essential" importance of maintaining the collective sys- temat

He emphasised that the British Government did not intend to weaken in support of the League. “REPORT TO ASSEMBLY He suggested that the report be submitted to the Assembly.

It is expected that the commit- tee to-day will adopt the proposal and then adjourn ́ ̈sine die.-Reu- ter.

SPAIN BLOODSHED

Geneva, To day.

A note of warning against any attempt to reform the League Covenant,--was sounded by the Te presentatives of Republican Spain and Mexico if the committee .of twenty-eight yesterday.

Senor del-Vayo (Spain) said that the present suffering of the Spanish people was the direct outcome of the fact that the Covenant had

never

XVI.

United States

Navy.

"Those ships have just left Sydney after a friendly stay amid a tumultuously cordial sendoff, and their reception in Singapore will not be less warm.

"Whatever dissatisfaction may have been manifested locally does not reflect official or public opinion in this country, which regards the courtesy visit of the United States cruisers as an exceptionally wel- come and timely event."-Reuter.

PHRASE ALTERED

London, To-day.

The "Daily Telegraph" leader on the Singapore naval base opening was altered in the later editions this morning, ⠀⠀ in which the last

sentence now reads:

"The United States may be as- sured that any criticism of the visit which has been reported does [not reflect official or public opinion in this country, which regards the courtesy visit of the United States cruisers as an exceptionally wel- come and timely event.”—Reuter.

THE BRITISH TREASURY

London, To-day. Exchequer returns show total or- Strict application of the Covenant dinary revenue at £622,869,281 would be better than any revision.[against £590,942,741 a year ago. To- Dr. Koo criticised the proposal to tal expenditure, less self balancing Existing conflicts might have the render Sanctions optional since this items, is £715,806,925 against result of strengthening, instead of would only contribute to increase £668,554,995 a year ago.--British weakening, the League, but to ach- discord. Trans-Ocean.

Wireless.

STRICT APPLICATION

H.M.S. Birmingham, one of the Other ships of this type will later

eft for Hong Kong yesterday.