“Canada’s move to protect the rights of the minorities of Europe, the rights of 25,000,000 people whose only appeal against oppression or injustice is the League of Nations, has received to a large extent the endorsement of the Great Powers represented at Geneva,” declared Senator Raoul Dandurand. Government leader of the Canadian Senate in a statement issued on his arrival here from Geneva, where he presented to the Council of the League of Nations a proposal for a change in the procedure in the submission of minorities petitions.
“With the signing of post-war treaties,” Senator Dandurand stated “certain rights were granted to peoples who formed minorities in the newly-made states of Europe. In the event of a complaint from these minorities it was necessary for the complainant ‘to enlist the good offices of a member of the League who would accept the responsibility and the odium of denouncing a nation for the violation of its international obligation.’ The procedure was briefly, unsatisfactory, and it was with a view to securing consideration for the minorities that the minorities proposal was brought before the Council of the League.
Senator Dandurand who has the full support of the Canadian Government in this matter, stated that he was glad his Government had shown courage and moved for the securing of added consideration for the minority peoples though Canada itself is a disinterested nation.
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