FUNDAMENTALS OF LEAGUE MENACED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 216, 12 September 1935, Page 7

FUNDAMENTALS OF LEAGUE MENACED.

DUTY,OF MEMBERS.

Clear Call to Stand Firm on

High Principles.

HONOURING PLEDGES

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, September 11

Sir Samuel Hoare, at the League of Nations Assembly, said that the delegates were there as members of a collective organisation, each pledged by certain obligations and each anxious to safeguard the future of the world by collective action in the cause of peace and progress.

hi epite of any national faults and failings, ho believed that Uiitisli public opinion had usually shown a *omnl instinct on big issues and bad usually in moments of crisis expressed itself with firmness, justice and common sense. The British people supported the ■League for m> selfish motive. They had seen that the old system of alliances was unable to prevent world war. As practical men and women they wished to find a more effective instrument for

pence. They were deeply ana genuinely moved by a great ideal. In spite of experiences in the past, the British people had clung to their ideal and they believed that collective security, founded on international agreement, was the most effective safeguard to peace, and they would bo gravely disturbed if the new instrument that had been forged were blunted or destroyed.

What the League Stands for. It was necessary, however, not only to have an ideal, but to consider what were the best measures for achieving it. But in determining the condition* in which the Council was working they must first clear their minds as to what the League was and what it was not.

It was not a super-State nor even a separate entity existing of itself, independent of or transcending the States which make up its membership. Jf it succeeded it was because its membere had, in combination with each other, the will and the power to apply the principles of the Covenant. If it failed It was because its members lacked either the will or the power to fulfil their obligations.

Proceeding, Kir Samuel discussed collective security, the organisation of peace and the prevention of war by collective means. It meant much more than what were commonly called sanctions. It meant the whole Covenant. It assumed a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations.

Its foundation was a series of fundamental obligations, accepted by the members, to submit every dispute likely to lead to war to peaceful methods of settlement according to the procedure provided by the Covenant.

Two of the principal conditions in which the system of collective security was designed to operate were: Firstly, that members should have reduced their armaments to the lowest point consistent with national safety and the enforcement by common action of international obligations, and, secondly, that the possibility was open, through the machinery of the League, for modification by consent and by peaceful means of international conditions whose continuance might be a danger to peace and the complete .system.

Recourse to War. There normally was the obligation to take collective action to bring war to an end in the event of any resort to war in disregard of the Covenant obligations. Underlying these obligations was the expectation that this system would be subscribed to by the universal world of sovereign States or by far the greatest part of it.

The whole system was the most inspiring conception in the history of mankind. Its realisation, however, could not be easy even in the most favourable circumstances. At the present time a much more grievous burden lay upon faithful members to preserve what had been won in the struggle for the organisation of peace.

Still, the obligations of the Covenant remained their burden. These had been increased many fold, but one thing was certain —that if the was to be borne it must be borne collectively. If risks for peace must be run, they must be run by all.

"On behalf of the British Govern-

ment, I can say that it will be second to none in its intention to fulfil, within the measure of its capacity, the obligations which the Covenant lays upon it in accordance with what it believes to be the underlying principles of the League."

"Our people have steadily promoted, and still promote, the growth of selfgovernment in their own territories. It was, for example, only a few weeks ago that I was responsible for helping to pass through the Imperial Parliament the great and complicated measure for extending self-government in India."

In conclusion the Foreign Secretary said: "The attitude of the British Government has been one of unwavering fidelity to the League and all that it stands for, and the case now before us is no exception, but a continuance of that rule. Any other view is at once an under-estimate of our good faith and an imputation upon our sincerity.

"I cannot believe that attitude to be changed so long as the League remains an effective body and the main bridge between the United Kingdom and the Continent remains intact."

The speech made a deep impression on the delegates. According to messages from Geneva, the firm and clear statement of the attitude of the British Government towards the Covenant was followed with profound attention.

START TUESDAY WEEK ?

BELIEF IN ABYSSINIA,

(Received 2 p.m.)

ADDIS ABABA, September 11

Correspondents report that the Ethiopian Government believes the Italian offensive will open on September 24.