Paris, Dec, 4.
After veers of idleness, the Lea of Nations will again centre national politics when the Coun meets on December 9 to discuss Finland's appeal over the Soviet attack.
The nations due to be represented at this meeting are Britain, France, Soviet Russia, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Bolivia, China, Greece, Iran, Latvia, New Zealand, Peru, the Dominican lepublie, Sweden and Italy. Although ' Italy has withdrawn from the League, her drawal comes into effect on December 11 on expiry of her two years' notice.
Several members of the Council are in a delicate position as regards Soviet Russia.
Latvia could hardly adopt an active stand against Moscow after signing her pact with Soviet Russia, while Sweden, despite her strong condemnation of the Soviet aggression against Finland, has adopted a policy of caution towards her German and Slav neighbours, while she joined with the Oslo group of nations in the campaign to deprive the League c: all political activity. At the time, Russia opposed this campaign and made herself the champion of resist tance against aggression, but was not successful. Belgium was in the same position as Sweden. China is receiving aid from Moscow in her present plight and can hardly declare herself openly against the Soviets. Yugoslavia, whose turn it was to preside over the Council, declined this honour and responsibility.
Diplomatic quarters stress that although world opinion may be unanimous in its condemnation of Soviet Russia's action, there can hardly be a similar unanimity at the Council's meeting in the matter of applying sanctions provided for against aggressors by the Covenant.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.