Evening star., 1938-09-16
BRITISH CON|C|EDE |C|
!. NEUTRAL DEMAND
Agree League Members
Have No Automatic
-s
Sanctions Duty.
~ the Associated Press,


GENEVA, Sept. l6.-Britain. giving
way before the attack Of the "neu.
tral" nations, agreed today that League
members have no automatic obli-
cation" to apply economic or military
punitive measures against an aggres-
sor.
This means that the neutral states
like Denmark and Belgium. are freed
from q possible automatic obligation
to permit military forces of League
powers to cross their territory should
one nation be declared an aggressor
by the League in future war.
Earl de Ia War;, British Lord Privy
Seal, speaking at the opening of the
Assembly session this morning before
flying to London for todays cabinet
meeting, startled the assembly with
. statement that "the view of the
United Kingdom government is that
each case for international actions
must be considered on its merits.
No Automatic Obligations.
THUS, even in the case where q
breach Of the Covenant has been es-
tablished in accordance with pro-
Eedure," he said, there would be in
the view of his majestys government
h the United Kingdom no automatic
obligations to apply either economic
.er military sanctions (as provided in
Article 16 Of the Covenant of the
Aeague).
-a There would, however, be a general
obligation to consider, in consulta-
ton with the other members, whether
end If so and how far they were able
= apply the measures provided In Ar
tscle 16, and what steps, If any. they
could take in common to render aid
u the victim of such a breach of the
covenant"
~ The swift-moving events of the Czech
crisis had spurred the neutral states to
take precautions against becoming In
Rolved in war.
F. The first impression Of many dele
gates was that De Ia Wars words
indicated the British were preparing
."san out" should the Czechs appeal to
TIE League.
.aa Joins Neutral Nations.
.ss Instead of resisting efforts of the
Neutral bloc to make the Leagues
pNnitive measures purely optional, as
md been forecast for months, Britain
practically joined the neutral nations.
.~- This is no fight" said one Balkan
delegate. 1T is q flight from League
responsibilities"
AFTER ALL" De la War; concluded,
The League is human institution and
and human beings who compose It,"
Applause greeted him from both GAL
leries and floor.
Czech sources in Geneva mirrored
Prague's fears that Britain might let
Chancellor Hitler Of Germany take
the Sudeten area as the price Of Euro
uean peace.
sss The C5echs made no, secret that,
1hould this become apparent. there
apuld be an appeal to the League.
!. Hearings Demanded.
This possibility led Norway, Belgium
Ao ASSLlud1A " OcHlAL1U 1lIlIucOlAkc
V1arings before the League Assembly.
They want to say what Sweden and
the Netherlands already have said
that they consider the Leagues pro-
visions for punitive action against an
aggressor purely optional.
4 Belgium and Denmark both fear
1hat in any future war, with Britain
and France massed against Germany,
League powers would ask for applica-
Zion Of Article Is of the League Cove
nant against Germany.
! In that event, neutrals say, the
League powers might use Belgium and
Denmark as high road through
which they could reach Germany.
: Britain and France, these neutrals
contend, could argue under Article 16,
which provides for economic and mill
tary action, that League members are
bound to afford passage through
their territory" to forces moving
against an aggressor
Delegates from Norway drafted 4
statement on Article l6 also in order
to protect Norway's large merchant
marine.