A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
IT is interesting to observe the part former members of the League of Nations Secretariat are playing today in the service of their different countries. Sir Arthur Salter is Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping. The delicate Altmark ' negotiations are in the capable hands of M. Colban, now Norwegian Minister in London. Signor Attolico, as Italian Ambassador in Berlin, won high praise from Sir Nevile Henderson for his eleventh-hour endeavours to save the peace last September. And I have just received the report of a recent important speech by Dr. van Kleffens, now Foreign Minister of his country, in the Dutch Parliament. Far too little notice was given it in our own papers, for it provided an effective answer to the Nazi propaganda which declares the League of Nations to be an appanage of France and Great Britain. Giving reasons why Holland was resisting all suggestions that she should leave the League, Dr. van Kleffens repudiated the idea that Geneva was dominated by Britain and France, and pointed out cogently that this was proved by the recent special session of the Assembly. It had not been the desire of those Powers which had led to the meeting. In fact neither of them wanted it. It was a small Power which had been the victim of aggression which had taken the initiative. The meeting, in fact, took place at the express request of the small States. This is very true, very pertinent and well worth saying.
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