THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17057, 31 January 1921, Page 7

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

HOW N.Z. IS AFFECTED. INTERVIEW WITH SIB JAMES ALLEN. (SPECIALLT WBITTEN FOB "THE PBESS. '.' (Bv Mrs Julian Grande.) GENEVA, December 17. Sir James Allen is to leave Geneva this evening for London, after having been here a little more than a month. Ho informs me that there is a great deal of work awaiting him in London, but I should say that he needs a holiday more than heavy work. During the sitting of tho Assembly of the League of Nations he certainly worked tho regulation eight hours a day, very often having to attend committee meetings late in the evening, besides tho plenary sittings held during the day. Even on Sundays he had but little rest. Thus the last Sunday he spent here he motored to Chateau d'Oex, a mountain village about 75 miles from Geneva, and 3180 feet altitude, to visit the grave of a .New Zealand soldier (Private Bunn, Second Auckland Regiment), who died of grippe on July 7th. 1918, when interned with several hundred other men, British prisoners of war. The English chaplain at Catcauti d'Oex, who knew Private Bunn, and visited him during ,his short illness, •said ''He was vory glad of my ministrations at tho last," but added that as thoro had been no less than four soldiers buried the day before, who had all died from grippe, the local people had become so nervous that Private Bunn ivas buried by lantern light, at dead of night, without any - military band and without any guns being tired over the open grave. 1 accompanied Sir James Allen to Chateau ci'Oex, and noticed that tho British soldiers' graves, all marked by temporary wooden crosses, are neatly kept, and that there were oven wreaths of overgreens laid upon them on the last anniversary of the armistice by the few English ladies resident in Chateau d'Oex. Afterwards plain stone tombstones will bo put up to mark the graves. Before Sir James Allen left Genera I asked him to give me his impressions of tho League Assembly for "The Press." My first question was as to how far he thought the League likely to affect New Zealand.

"The most immediate effect," he replied, "will, it, is hoped, bo in evidence this session by tho issue, without further delay, of the mandate to New Zealand for Western Samoa. New Zealand has instituted ' civil Government, and is administering the islands, as she believes, according to the terms which must be contained in the mandate; but it-is clear that her relationship to the League of Nations and the terms of the mandate should be defined. ,It is hardly conceivable that the composition of trio Mandates Commission will be other than acceptable to New Zealand. The present proposal for nine members is, in my judgment, better than the Council's proposal for a larger number; but there seems no reason why five members should not have proved sufficient. "The work of the International Labour Office, which is an adjunct to Dhe League, is not likely to affect us, as we appear to have complied with all conditions laid down at the Washington Conference. —Regarding the- > technical organisations which will be set up as a result of the work of the AsRembly 3 the two of most interest to the Dominion are tho Health and the Financial and Economic organisations. The Health organisation provides 'for, advising the League of Nations on health matters, bringing administrative health authorities in different countries into closer relationship, arranging for a rapid interchange of information, especially on epidemics, and the simplification of methods for acting on such information; the furnishing of a ready organisation for securing or revising necessary international agreements; assisting in regard to measures for tho protection of tho worker against sickness, diseases, and injury arising out of employment; conferring and co-operating with and advising existing Bed Cross and similar societiees and voluntary organisations; and the organisation of missions connected with matters of health. The Economic and Financial organisation, in so far as it may devise means for tho relief of the financiar Btrain which has arisen out of the war, will do good to all; but, should it launch into the examination of such economic questions as the control of raw materials, New Zealand may be very much concerned. The idea amongst some of, the delegates seems to be that the League should set up' an organisation which should control raw materials; but there is a very strong feeling amongst other members of the League, with which I am in concurrence, that it would bo a very harmful Btep, in the interests of the League itself, to interfere with tho rights of nations to control their own internal affairs.

"it is scarcely necessary to dwell upon other matters which may affect New .Zealand at Bome future date, as, for instance, the reduction of armaments and the maintenance of peace.. If it were possible to produce such a condition of things in the world that war could never occur again, if New' Zealand could be assured that her communications, mostly by sea, would be always open to her, naturally she would welcome such a state, but at present tho ideal seems far from achievement." "Do you think that the New Zealand people realise what the League aims at doing?" J asked. "1 am sure the New Zealand peoplo think the League aims at securing; perpetual peace, and no further war/' Sir James Allen replied, "and that New Zealand also realises that a better feeling amongst nations will be produced by the existence of tho League, even as at present constituted; but if all the nations of the world were to join together for the preservation of peace, tins better feeling would be still further assured." I I then asked him whether the League J was beginning well, and on the way to accomplish something, or whether it might have been better to have waited till the world was a little more ripo for it, as some people think should have been done, and till at any rate Germany. Russia, and the United States joined. "I think the League is beginning well,", he replied, "and on the wav to j accomplish something. It would have beoif unwise to wait, as wo might have waited a very long time until all countries joined."

The question which I then put to Sir James was, [ admit, "somewhat delicate: whether ho thought the attitude adopted by some of Germany's former enemies is altogether wise? "'Would it not," I asked,'"bo well to make it clear to Germany that no opposition would bo raised to her joining the LeagueP" "I do not know of any country that has adopted the attitude that Germany should bo refused admission into the League. All I have heard is £hat an indication has been given that as soon as Germany has complied with the conditions of the Peace Treaty there will lie no objection to her joining. I think it ought to be made clear to Germany that there is no real objection to her coming in, but that there are conditions which she must fulfil, if she has not already done so." . "In so tar as you can judge, ' I asked, 'will "this Assembly be a kind »t

preparatory meeting to another League of Nations on a broader bnsis, and including all important Powers? If all the great and important Powers do not join, how are the decisions of an International Court of Justice, or any other decisions., to bo enforced?'' "I find it very difficult," Sir.James replied, "to give an opinion on question whether all the important Powers will join. At nresent it looks as i c the United States'of America will not. The second part of the question is also difficult to answer. I imagine that if the- greater .portion of the world is joined together for the preservation of peace, that its decisions and the decisions of any Court set up will be respected. Even if the United State* of America were to remain out, it is difficult to conceive of her ignoring public opinion, by adopting an attitude of hosr tility to the League, or to the decisions of an International Court of Justice. On the contrary, the probabilities are that a nation like the United States of America, even if not a member of the League, would be closely associated with institutions which the" League might create for the preservation of peace and the betterment of mankind."

"You have been reporter for the committee dealing with the Budget of tho League and of the International Labour OfficCj" I said. "Do you not think that it might have been desirable for each country to have had its own partment in the seeietarid offices of tho League, with its own library, and one of its own citizens to take charge? Would it not be simpler, whenever «j question concerning any country came up for discussion, to have the necessary facts at hand?" "I think it desirable," Sir James admitted, "that each country should, if possible, be represented in the secretariat, but it is impossible to • carry this out fully. I "am of opinion that the staff should not consider they are. permanently appointed, and opportunities should occur for making room for the nationals of other members of tho League to join tho staff. I am sure that-if thjg were done, a good feeling would spread throughout tho -world, and I am certain that the association of citizens of many States would have a beneficial effect. I do not think it necessary for each State to Uiave its own department in tho secretarial offices, but, as alroady indicated., I think it should have a- representative on tho staff. There eeems no reason why the essential facts with regard to any country should not be available, even if it has no department of its own in tUio secretarial office.

"I think there is danger," Sir James Trent on, "that the League may develop into a hydra-headed institution, _ with its many conferences and committees enquiring into questions which were better left to the rations themselves, and which load to,, largo expenditure, and the belief that money is being wasted. Such an effect would be very detrimental. It is true.the League has large powers of control, but it may bo difficult to exercise these. The argument that some adduce, namely, that the expenditure of a large sum of money is justified because peace and the reduction of armaments will be assured, cannot be sustained in view of the facta as we find tfticm. I suspect that in veiy few countries is the expenditure on armaments reduced. These few iQclude nations like Germany and Austria, our former enemies. Some countries are actively constructing further arfnaments; others, though they may not be doing this, probably find their expenditure in this direction is as great as before the war, owing to increase in pricos. There is one otiher aspect of the question which seems to me of importance, namely, that by foTcing upon our late enemies a real reduction of armaments we- have thrown an economic boomerang which will recoil upon ourselves. The main work before us is to use out resources to re-establish our industries. We have provided tihat our) late enemies shall waste but little upon armaments, and that may devote what .they . have.. ..to .. reconstruction; whereas others' are still spending huge sums on armaments, and have not available what tihey should have for construction. Though the results of this may not be observed immediately, I feel sure that this policy, if continued, will, in the course of a few years, give our former enemies very great advantage."

In a former article I mentioned that Sir James Allen was assisted by two secretaries, one Mr Cyril Burdekin, originally of Nelson, and the other, (his private secretary, Mr Knowles, who used to be private secretary to Sir Thomas Mackenzie. It was an unusual pleasure to see anyone from New Zealand ini Geneva, which, may bo the resort of all nations upon earth, but which is, nevertheless, not one where citizens of the British Dominions are often to be met. One effect of the Dominion, the Commonwealth, and Canada having been represented here has been that for the first time some foreign nations, the Frendh among* others, begin to realise the relation of a British dominion to the Mother Country. Even row, however, I do not think they can conceive how Canada, for instance, can decline, as she does, to allow even British statesmen to interfere in her internal affairs, let alone other countries, and nevertiheless remain a loyal daughter of tho Empire. Q