LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 302, 15 September 1921, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

CONCENTRATION ON DISARMAMENT ADVOCATED

TOO MANY MINOR SUBJECTS CONSIDERED SPEECH BY AUSTRALIAN DELEGATE Mr. Bruce, an Australian delegate to the League Assembly, in an impressive address, urged that the League should concentrate on disarmament instead of considering so many minor subjects. His arguments received warm support from English and Canadian representatives.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Geneva, September 13

Addressing the League of Nations, Mr. S. M. Bruco said Australia had bled in helping to save European civilisation. That was why Australia was as interested as anyone in tho future success of the League, which, he hoped, would replace arbitrament with arms by arbitrament with justice. Such 'a change had long been realised in Australian industrial conflicts. The League had considered too many minor subjects, whereas it should have concentrated on disarmament. It was imperative that tho League should have weapons wherewith to enforce its decisions, but in the meantime an economic blockade should prove the most effective because the world was so organised that no nation could withstand such ,a blockade. Australia believed that foundations had been laid which eventually would enable a grout edifice to be built. The League would have to be more daring in attempting the great object of disarmament. Expenditures in effort and money along subsidiary channels now would bo likely to cause grave misgiving amongst the young and distant nations. It would bo better to allow these ambitious schemes for social betterment to remain until the League had firmly established itself in the world’s Opinion by a solid and enduring achievement of some substantial instalment of its primary objective. He recognised that important nations stood without the League, but sustained and useful action by tho League would, no doubt, find them willing to co-operate. Mr. Bruce mado a considerable impression, and was applauded. Mr. Balfour congratulated him, and Dr. H. A. L. Fisher. (England) and Mt. N. W. Rowell (Canada) warmly supported the proposition to concentrate on disarmament. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.