ONLY ONE FUNCTION OF LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 10

ONLY ONE FUNCTION OF LEAGUE

Settlement of Disputes

NEW ZEALAND UNION’S WORK REVIEWED

“While political disputes gain a pro-

minent place in the Press and consequently in popular opinion, it is necessary to remind ourselves that the settlement of international disputes is only' one function of the League of Nations. The routine work of the League is gradually building the League into the fabric of international relationship. Even now the League is so fully established that its necessity is axiomatic among all straightthinking, well-informed people.” stated the report presented to the annual conference of the New Zealand League of Nations Union, which opened in Wellington yesterday. “The last year has seen amazing ami violent fluctuations in popular opinion about the League,” the report continued. “On the one hand have been the abortive character of the Disarmament Conference, the failure of the nations to give effect to the Lytton report on the Manchurian situation, the defection of both Japan and Germany from the League, the rearming of Germany, and the present impasse between Italy and Abyssinia. These factors have led many to conclude that the League had ceased to count in international affairs.

“But on the other hand have been the spectacular League policing of the Saar during the plebiscite, the speedy solution by the League of the crisis occasioned by the assassination of Alexander, King of Yugoslavia, the advent of Russia io membership in the League, the full participation of U.S.A, in the international labour organisation and tiie creation in the British Government of a new officer in the Cabinet, the Minister of League of Nations affairs. Time and again also the British Government has emphasised that its foreign policy is based on n firm loyalty to the League. Present Situation Precarious. “That the present situation is precarious in the extreme no one can doubt. The European situation has become acute with panic-inspired defensive measures and evaporating security—the two hemispheres of a vicious circle. Sentiment supports national animosities, which are rapidly precipitating armed activities. Reason suggests that the only alternative to widespread disaster is to exalt League arbitrament to a. sovereign place. At such a time it is well to recollect that the history of the post-war period has been but a sequence of such acute situations and that hitherto disaster has been averted.

“It may be humanity is stil" being granted a further reprieve in which to work out some better way of facing and solving international disputes. “The British League of Nations Union has during this past year carried through with amazing success the largest activity it has yet undertaken, in the national peace ballot. This has shown indubitably that the majority of the people of Great Britain stand solidly for the League. This fact has bad its repercussions in our midst in a growing, appreciation of our New Zealand union. Intelligent people everywhere are alive to the fact that the League stands for a new way of international relationship and that it can only succeed as it is backed by public opinion. During the past year the branches throughout the Dominion have been considerably strengthened. One branch Ims now a membership of oyer HKH), and most branches have carried through a programme of vigorous and varied activity. Deputations to Prime Minister. “On November 30, 1934, a deputation representing the Dominion council, waited on the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. M . Forbes, and the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Musters, to bring before the notice of the Government resolutions passed at the annual conference dealing with the relation of the New Zealand Government to the collective system <’f maintaining peace and administering international justice, tiie relation of the Education Department to the League of Nations’ viewpoint, and Ihe relation of the New Zealand Government to the international labour organisation. Although the attitude of the Minister approached was not altogether sympathetic, it was felt that good would eventuate through the deputation, and this view was justified, for New Zealand is being fully represented this year at the labour conference.

“It is gratifying to be able to record that the branch at New Plymouth which had been dormant for six or seven years lias been resuscitated, and that u new branch lias been formed at Taihape.

“There has been a pronounced increase in membership throughout New Zealand during the yeitr under review. Auckland advises having reached the thousand mark, and in Wanganui the membership has this year been doubled. "The director of the broadcast station was interviewed, with the result that the council requested the four main centres to arrange with their own local stations for speakers. This is a line along which further development seenia to be possible." Increasing Interest of People. "I think that the increase in membership during the first year is a very clear indication that people all over the country realise that the future of the world lies along the lines of League actions and ideals more than in any other way,” said the Dominion president. Rev. F. If. Wilkinson. in welcoming delegates. One felt, he said, that while the immediate future apparently was somewhat dark, the whole history of the post-war world had been that of a succession of crises. He thought that they should remain resolutely optimistic.

Mr. ’Wilkinson welcomed the president emeritus. Very Rev. Dr. James Gibb, who was present, he said, in spite of doetor’s orders. Dr. Gibb had maintained a keen interest in the work of the League and the council during the year. "It has not been possible to accomplish all we would have liked,” Mi. Wilkinson said, “but the year has been a very successful one. and one of increasing activity in which the mana of the union has distinctly increased."