FAILED IN BIG TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 9

FAILED IN BIG TEST.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. ABOLITION WOUM> BE a TRAGIC MISTAKE." BISHOP SPROTT'S VIEW. "The cancellation of war debts would perhaps do more than anything else to bring about a financial and industrial revival," said the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. Dr. T. H. Sprotr, in opening the Wellington Diocesan Synod. He made an appeal for a sympatheticview of the work of the League of Nations. He pointed out that the League could deal with a recalcitrant member by imposing economic boycott, taking combined military action, or by expelling the covenant-breaking party from the League. It was probable that under existing world conditions the League either could not or dare not resort to any of these penalties. "As things are at present, it would seem that in the first great test the League has failed," said his Lordship. "It Iβ to be hoped that even yet it will regain some of the lost ground, but the present situation seems to be as I have stated. "Noblest Constructive Effort." "When the creation of the League was first suggested, there were influential personages who scoffed at the idea. There are not wanting influential voices now to call for its abolition. I think that would be a tragic mistake. It would mean the abandonment of the noblest constructive effort of our day. It would mean the whole falling back into the pre-war view of international relations, namely, that every nation regarded every other as a potential enemy. It would strengthen immensely the fatalistic conviction, hitherto eo widespread, that war is inevitable, that it is deeprooted in the constitution of human nature and in the conditions of earthly existence, and that, as there have always been wars, so there always will be wars as long ae the world lasts."

The Bishop remarked that it was probably true that the decisive word regarding the- cancellation of war debts rested with the United ■ States. Although there was no certainty that the United States would consent to entire cancellation in any circumstances, it seemed to be understood that the question would not be considered at all unless the European nations effected drastic reduction of armaments. Disarmament Conference. The Bishop continued: "The action of Japan and the inability of the League to deal with it must give the nations furiously to think whether it is prudent to reduce armaments to any appreciable degree. Who can tell whether some other powerful member of the League may not stir up war? Distrust, suspicion, and fear will become rife. We know that the Disarmament Conference, when it first met some months ago, immediately adjourned on account of- the Sino-Japanese trouble. It is again sitting, but does not seem

to be, making much progress, and it is not likely that any draetic reduction of armaments will bo effected. Should this be the'result, may it not indefinitely postpone the return of financial prosperity." A little. thought would show that if every man and every nation were more concerned in giving justice than in receiving it, in the end all would receive their just rights. Out of a clash of rights, whether concerning men or nations, no etable position and no justice could ever come. "Such a clash simply means the triumph of the stronger—the victory of might over right," said the Bishop. "It requires, no doubt, perfectly moralised men and perfectly moralised nations for the higher state of things to obtain; and truly wo are far enough removed from that condition—how far removed the present state of the world shows. It is the ideal toward which we must strive, and the nearer.we approximate to it, the nearer shall we come to a solution of our national and international troubles."