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Possible candidates, including Joseph Avenol, to succeed James Eric Drummond, as League of Nations Secretary-General.
About the appointment of a new Secretary-General and possible candidates for the other League of Nations High Direction posts: Giuseppe Motta, J. Avenol, E.J. Phelan, M. Bourquin, Ekstrand and Massey.
Various documents regarding the appointment of a Deputy-Secretary-General: J. Avenol in favour of P. Azcarate's appointment, J. Avenol's views, E.J. Phelan's position, two secret meetings; Annex A: S. Lester's views on the appointment of a Deputy-Secretary-General, Annex B: J. Avenol's statement at a secret meeting, Annex C: further S. Lester's statement, Annexes D and E: other S. Lester's statements; S. Lester's report to the Department of External Affairs, dated 8th February 1933 on S. Lester's cordial talk with P. Azcarate after his appointment and the reactions to P. Azcarate's appointment, such as the Norwegian objection of having three Latins.
Extract from the "Journal de Genève" on the problem of the reconstruction of China, it was Joseph Avenol's first Council meeting as League of Nations Secretary-General, and on the difficult negotiations to settle the Chaco dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay.
Extract from "The Times": J. Avenol's speech on the crisis in the League of Nations' affairs - A few Member States intended to withdraw from the League of Nations, others requested radical changes - A majority of countries in the world appeared to be losing confidence in the League of Nations' ability to deal with major problems - Problem of the vote of confidence to be asked by J. Avenol - The problem of disarmament was the main cause of the crisis in the League of Nations' affairs: the question of the reduction of armaments was relegated to the background by the League of Nations Disarmament Conference - J. Avenol's answer to various criticisms made of the League of Nations: problem of equality between States and the possibilities for the revision of treaties that were inadequate - Methods of work at Geneva also criticized: too many speeches, documents and committees.
Streiter, taken into prison, charged with having disclosed official secrets: the famous five-pointed ultimatum delivered to H. Rauschning, but released because no official evidence; a similar case: Berent, one of the principal officials in the Education Department, was charged with high treason; Lochstadt case: a Minority Pole, whose rights were not respected, was also charged with high treason and released; "Arbeitsdienst" decree: every youth had to give a year's labour service, however it was against the Constitution to send him out of Danzig against his will, but the Danzig economic situation made it difficult to provide work for them all.
Polish Government's willingness to co-operate with S. Lester in the Danzig business; new relationship between Poland and Danzig; talk between S. Lester and Count Lubienski, in charge at Warsaw with the task of looking after Danzig affairs, who emphasized that the accords so far reached were purely general and political.
Interview with Koch, Danish Consul and Doyen of the Consular Corps, on Polish-German Treaty of friendship and H. Rauschning's weakened position vis-à-vis Albert Forster; conversation with Delfin, French Consul General, but not on the political situation in Danzig; interview with Valcke, Belgian Consul General on Polish restrictions on imports; interview with von Radowitz, German Consul General on Polish-German Treaty of friendship, protection of Europe essential in the future as a protection against the Soviet, and on H. Rauschning and A. Foster, S. Lester wanted to get information in case of rupture between these two men; interview with de Lieto, Italian Consul General, on Polish-German Treaty, Danzig-Poland economic situation and the fact that Danzig could not live without Poland.
J. Avenol's thanks to S. Lester for his letters and personal notes explaining the Danzig situation, J. Avenol asked S. Lester to continue to inform him by letters and encouraged S. Lester in his task.
About S. Lester's official visit to Warsaw 6-8 February 1934, where he met K. Papée, Polish Minister, Count Lubienski, Chief of the Danzig Section, Duiawdoski of the League of Nations Section and a number of other prominent officials, and where he had official talks with J. Beck, Foreign Minister, on the new Polish-German Treaty J. Beck concluded; with Zarzycki, Minister for Commerce and acting President of the Council, on the Polish interests in Danzig; and with Marshal Pilsudski, Minister for War, who was the real Governor of Poland, but did not occupy the position of Prime Minister, etc.; S. Lester's note on his talk with Ferber (5 February 1934) regarding the incidents with Nazi flag in Danzig for the anniversary of A. Hitler's accession to power in Germany and monarchist flag in the municipality of Zoppot, as well as the question of the Polish schools, the problem with the new regulation made by the Nazi organisation and the carrying of arms "long knives"; S. Lester's talk (6 February 1934) with Prost, one of the Danzig Social-Democrat Leader Party and editor at the "Volkstimme" on the freedom of press, petitions, Volkstag new elections; and S. Lester's interview (8 February 1934) with A. Forster, leader of the National Socialist Party in Danzig, personal representative of A. Hitler, on the Nazis and the Danzig Constitution.