Evening star., 1936-07-02
Proposal Indicates Plan to
Make Permanent Deal
With Germany.
u. S. is INVITED TO JOIN
NON.SANCTIONS LEAGUE
Netherlands Delegate Calls for
Change in Covenant to Pact
for Consultation.
BACKGROUND

The prestige of the League OF
Nations hduing suffered greatly
through the failure to halt Italian
aggression in Ethiopia, the smaller
nations hare shoWn disposition
to break awdy.
The Dutch foreign secretary
took part in regional conference
yesterday iUith foreign secretaries
of the Scandinavian countries, at
Which time the question Uds raised
Uhether there remained any pur-
pose in remaining in the League as
noU constituted.
By the Associated Press.
GENEVA. July 2-Immediate con-
vocation of conference of the great
powers to prevent European war was
proposed to the League of Nations
Assembly late today by Eamonn de
Valera. President of the Irish Free
State.
The suggestion surprised many dele
gates, but it dovetailed into what ap-
peared to be determined plans to make
durable deal with non-League Ger
many.
De Valera said II the powers meet
now in a peace conference. which
would have to be held after Europe
once more was drenched in blood. the
terrible menace which threatens us
all today can be warded Off"
War Menace Spurs Action.
De Valera's speech was taken as
another indication that the war
menace, already stressed by Premier
Leon Blum Of France and others, was
galvanizing the statesmen into action.
1t was reported France was desirous
of getting Germany into a new
Locarno conference late in July even
If Germany fails to reply to the
British Locarno questionnaire.
Special efforts also will be made,
it was understood, to get Italy into
the parley.
De Valera, demanding concentra-
ton of peace efforts in Europe,
warned that if the great nations fail
in their duty the smaller states win
not become the tools of the large,
and will resist every attempt to force
them into war against their will"
The Valera spoke after the Neither
lands foreign minister, DR.. A. c. D.
de Graeff. made an open bid for ad-
herence of the United States and
other Geneva absentees.
He advocated the elimination Of
all sanctions from the Leagues peace
machinery and suggested transforma-
ton of the covenant into an agree
ment Of purely consultative ;ype.
His proposal. which created a stir
in the Assembly chamber. supple-
mented the idea that the only League
sanction which should be maintained
was that of automatically expelling
any aegressor state.
Sense Of Security Seen Lost.
The League has created a false
sense of security which must be reme-
died or the international body will
inevitably be destroyed" Stanley M.
Bruce of Australia told the Assembly
earlier.
The hope Of millions of men and
women has been extinguished," the
Australian delegate declared. I'VE
must rekindle that hope"
Bruce, the first of Is listed speak
ers, asserted effective sanctions
against Italy would need military
action, to which no one wants to
resort.
He expressed "acute anxiety" over
the present European political situ-
alton.
Agreeing that sanctions have failed
and should be lifted, Alberto GUAM
Of Uruguay told the delegates the
League system should be adapted to
international realities.
He pledged Uruguay's cooperation
with the work for justice and peace,
to which all of the peoples on the
American continent are devoted"
He referred in his speech to the
insistence of Argentina that Ameri-
can nations should hold to the doc
trine of non-recognition of territories
acquired by force.
Repeated failure. of the Leagues ef-
forts to halt wars in which a great
(See LEAGUE, Page S.