Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 392

382
LE NORD
being the reason for their opposing
Norway’s membership in the League
has proved to be all too well found-
ed. ... I think the last days have
shown more and more clearly to
all of us that when it comes to col-
lective security we dare not trust
in any of the Great Powers whether
they call themselves democratic or
not. They are Great Powers, and
their policy is a great power po-
licy.”
Speaking of Czechoslovakia Dr.
Koht gave the information that, on
September 21st, in a meeting of re-
presentatives of several delegations
to Geneva, he suggested a proposal
to the Assembly of the League to
press on the parties a strong recom-
mendation in favour of a peaceable
solution, but at that date he found
no support for his suggestion. Then
on September 27th he called another
meeting of several delegations and,
in consideration of the impending
prorogation of the Assembly, sug-
gested an appeal to the Council ac-
cording to article 11 of the
Covenant. But so many objections
were formulated that he withdrew
his suggestion and reverted to the
idea of getting the Assembly to
adopt a resolution. This proposal
now met with more sympathy, but
even now it was remarked that
“first I ought to consult Mr. So and
Mr. So and Mr. So. At last I said
that now I had to act as I felt just.
I consulted some others that same
evening. The following day, Sep-
tember 28 th, I prepared a draft re-
solution. I got 8 delegations to sign
it and had it handed in to the
Bureau of the Assembly, on the
same day. It was accepted with
some minor alterations. The fol-
lowing day it was laid before the
Assembly and unanimously adopt-
ed. The resolution urged upon the
parties to settle the conflict peace-
fully and without war-threats.”
“I believe there is hope now, if
it is only utilized with circum-
spection and good will .... 1*11
mention that between the small
states of Europe preparatory steps
have been taken to make the
question of disarmament practical
policy once more and I feel it im-
portant to make use of this moment
for that purpose.”
Dr. Koht later mentioned the
civil war in Spain and the arrange-
ment made with Franco. Our trade
with Spain had been waning more
and more. In 1935 we had an ex-
port of 16.5 millions and an import
amounting to the same figure. In
the last five months of 1936 Spain
was in a state of civil war, and our
export fell to 12 millions; and the
import from Spain was reduced to
14 millions. In 1937 the cor-
responding figures were 6 and 7.5
millions. The reduction hit our in-
dustry, nitrates, pulp and paper,and
on the other hand the lack of zinc-
ore and of olive-oil from Spain
created certain difficulties for some
of our factories. And conditions of
shipping were getting more and
more difficult.