LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 227, 19 June 1920, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

QUESTION OF ITS UTILITY

DISCUSSED

"MAY BE STIFLED IN ITS

* CRADLE"

T3y Telegraph-PreSß Aasociation-Oopyrizht • London, Juno 17. There is a renewal! of the tliscussion on the question of the utility of the League of Nations, to which the debate on the Nauru Bill has contributed, and it shows increasing candour and pessimism. "The Times," in an' editorial, describes as' a "pompous farce" the League's offer of mere sympathy to Persia, accompanied by the advice that the Persian Government should await tho result of Bussia's promises, "It is enough to provoke world-wide Homerio laughter, followiiig as it did the fiat refusal of.the Soviet authorities to _ admit ; to Eussia the League's investigating committee. The league merely threw upon the Soviet . Government .• tho entire ■• responsibility, which it refused to accept." "The Times" believes that only malice could involve the crippled League. The situation at. present is beyond ita strength. Enough already has been done almost to kill it!; The British and French must try to nurse and protect it piile awaiting help from America. The "Guardian", suggests that the Nauru deal weakens, the authority of the League, to which the world is entitled _ (o look- fcr assistance in reconstruction work and maintenance of an open door.- ■ .. •-• -.

The "Westminster Gazette" fears the League may be stifled in its cradle, and declares the Nauru Bill is stupid and unprincipled, and creates a precedout defeating the leading principle of the League. It offers our rivals a working model for evasions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn., : ■•-.