The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1920. THE EMPIRE AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 228, 21 June 1920, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1920. THE EMPIRE AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

The deadlock over foreign policy in the United States has somewhat dimmed the hopes that were at first based on the formation of the League of Nations; but the importance of this organisation to humanity, even in such circumstances as obtain, was not exaggerated by Mr. Balfour when he said, a day or two ago, that if it broke down tho most promising effort hitherto made in the direction of a new civilisation would be deIf the fact was ever in doubt, it is now clear that the creation of a super-State, able. as an international authority to enforce' its decrees on any nation, is an impossible aspiration, so far, at least, as the present age is concerned. On the other uand, given the necessary spirit of good-will, much is to be_ hoped from developing andbuilding up the League on such lines as are now being followed. At a minimum, it offers all peacefully-inclined nations a rallyiug_ point _ and the opportunity of taking quick and concerted action in an emergency. It offers also a means of promoting, though not instantly accomplishing, a universal limitation' of armaments, and of modifying in other ways the conditions out of which war is likely to' arise. Tho open diplomacy and

the agreement to abstain from aggression which are conditions of League membership in themselves offer potent safeguards of world i peacdi Much as its growth and progress are now hampered, the League undoubtedly is capable of developing into an institution of priceless value to mankind. As was pointed, out by British Ministers in statements which are reported today, it is already doing useful work, though rather as an international agency _ than as an international authority. • The gradual realisation of its larger possibilities evidently must depend upon the spirit in which it is supported by the leading nations of the world, and above all by the British Erfipire.

The extent to which American hesitancy has made the League dependent on British support for its continued existence makes it very necessary that clear ideas on the whole, question should obtain throughout the Empire, and also that,»it should be removed from the field of party political controversy. It is obvious, for instance, that if tho details of international organisation were commonly debated and' dealt with in the spirit of those who opposed the passage of the Nauru Bill in the Houso of Commons the issue involved in supporting and building up tho League of Nations would soon be cast into confusion. Thcro is. evidently no foundation for tho charge made by critics of the Bill, that it violates British obligations under the League of Nations. The business transaction governing the production and disposal of the Nauru phosphates is not in any respect inconsistent cither. with the _ full protection of the native inhabitants of the island or with any broader obligation which membership of the League entails. The attack made on tho Bill was bound to collapse, but very possibly it has done harm in and beyond the Empire by creating a false impression. There is need of a more enlightened treatment of questions relating to mandates and othor affairs of international scope

if the Empire is to mako its influence tell effectively in favour of the League of Nations. The right atmosphere will hardly be created unless a general understanding is reached throughout the Empire that Such questions arc to be dealt with from a non-party standpoint, .and purely on their merits. The alternative is to allow mere party bickering to hamper what Mr. Baijou'r has justly called the most promising effort hitherto madejn the direction of a new civilisation. Assuming that a reasonable spirit prevails, it ■ is undoubtedly open to the Empire to plav a mighty part in building up a Lcaguo of Nations worthy of the name. It is argued in some ouarters that the Empire is badly placed to act effectively in international affairs, and that the individual adhesion of the Dominions to the League of Nations has seriously ncccntuated the problems of interImperial organisation which already existed.. Such contentions, however, seem to tako too little account of the extent to which the countries of the Empire are capable of adapting themselves to changing conditions of inter-Imperial and external relationship. There is admittedly something paradoxical in the existing state of affairs. The Dominions havo attained the status indicated by Loud Mit-nee when he declared, in a. statement which today, that "there was no kind of authority in practice, whether or not there might be in the theory of the Constitution, that the Parliament, and peoples of the United Kingdom ■, claimed any longer to'exercise ovei

the Parliaments and peoples of the Dominions." ¥eb even now control of Imperial foreign policy centres very largely in the British Government, and while the Dominions undoubtedly wish to exercise an effective voice in the treatment of external affairs, the example set by Canada in deciding to send a Minister to Washington is unlikely to bo followed to any great extent. Canada's action is dictated by detail considerations of practical importance, and not by any desire to emphasise her almost independent status. This well understood fact is the keynote to a situation which from the standpoint of constitutional order possibly leaves something to be desired. The working arrangements in which the Empire is linked arc on the face of it loose and flexible, but while they serve their purpose and enable _ each Dominion to adapt itself readily to the special circumstances by which it is confronted, no fault need be found with them on that account. At the same time it is certainly desirable that the various countries of I the Empire should act unitedly in dealing with all important inter- ' national issues, particularly where the League of Nations is concerned. Each Dominion has the right to make representations direct to the League, but, as Dr. Berriedale Keith suggested recently, it should bo easy to secure > agreement in the principle that neither the United kingdom nor any Dominion should address any communication to the League save after consultation with the other parts of the Empire. Such an agreement would go far to ensure Imperial unity in making representations to the League, and at the same time would establish the conditions in which the Empire would bo best placed to support and uphold that organisation.