ization will affect the sovereignty of the states. If that is so, then why impose such restrictions on only a few states? If it is contented that the system was devised for minority protection, then why not go forward? Why limit certain states only? Poland awaits the reply of the Assembly,” the Polish representative concluded.
Yugoslavia supported the Polish proposal, speaking in the name of the Little Entente, including Czechoslovakia and Rumania.
The Republic of Argentine supported the proposal.
Holland expressed full agreement with the Polish desire to limit application to Europe alone, but protested sharply against Colonel Beck’s declaration.
The Turkish representative endorsed the Polish plan.
SWITZERLAND’S STAND
Switzerland supported the project in principle, but expressed a doubt as the advisability of calling an international conference before the whole question had been more fully discussed. The Swiss delegate also protested against the Beck declaration.
Sweden declared itself in favor of a comprehensive study of the Polish proposal for generalization.
The Canadian delegate spoke against the plan.
Albanian and Iraquian delegates spoke for the plan, while the Haitian representative spoke against the Polish generalization project.
The official Polish resolution presented to the League declared:
“The present situation in regard to the international protection of minorities is not in harmony with the fundamental principles of international morality, and the Assembly of the League of Nations is of the opinion that it should be remedied by the conclusion of a general convention for the protection of minorities, such convention to provide for the same undertakings on the part of all members of the League of Nations and to ensure international protection for all racial, linguistic and religious minorities.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
“The Assembly also decided to summon for that purpose an international conference consisting of all the members of the League of Nations, in order to draw up a general convention on the international protection of minorities, and requests the Council to take the necessary steps to summon the conference in the near future, and in any case within six months from the close of the proceedings of the present session of the Assembly.”
The generalization plan has been advanced at a number of previous League sessions by Hungarian, Lithuanian and other governments bound by minority treaties. The minority treaties, which minority representatives have declared bluntly are honored in the breach rather than observance, are irksome to the nations which signed such treaties and they have expressed openly their desire to rid themselves of the burden.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
