NOT YET DEAD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 8

NOT YET DEAD

Business Men’s Views on League of Nations WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT Promotion of World Peace That the League of Nations, though it had suffered some severe setbacks and had been badly shaken on its foundations, was still capable of accomplishing great things for the general betterment of international affairs, was the opinion expressed by speakers at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. The chamber unanimously carried a resolution affirming its belief in the need for whole-hearted support for the League in order to assist the vital and difficult task of promoting and preserving world peace, and expressing pleasure that the Government was taking steps to strengthen the representation of New Zealand ih the work of the League.

Bringing the resolution forward, Mr. S. Cory-Wright urged that everything possible should be done to encourage the tremendous work which the League was doing. He drew the attention of the meeting to the encouraging amount of support voiced quite recently by the New Zealand Government, which, he said, Indicated that the Government was fully alive to the spirit of the League. He knew a great deal could be said both for and against the League. They had to realise that in some respects the League had failed, the most recent outstanding case being the Abyssinian question. It did not mean the death of the League, however, and it was up to every member of the British Commonwealth of Nations to give whole-hearted support. “The time will come, I hope, when members of the League will be able to solve many of their difficulties by conferences, and to bring together more of the non-members of the League,” continued Mr. Cory-Wright. “I venture to visualise the possibility and the hope that the League may eventually be instrumental in bringing together the rival factions in Europe and the whole cf the white race. It has been abundantly proved that big wars are no way to solve troubles." “I am not sure that we have not got to look to the business people of the world to take a greater interest in international affairs,” said Mr. W. B, Matheson, who seconded the motion. “It may be that hard business facts may bring us to our senses).” Business people, he added, had done marvellous work in the cause of science and in many other ways, but in matters of State-craft they had 'been lax and easy-going. It was absolute lunacy to go on the way they were. Why should they destroy humanity? It was no credit to them. Mr. M. G. C. McCaul thought they expected too much from things of human imagination. The League of Nations was established to put down war, but it would never succeed- in that any more than the police force would succeed in putting down crime. But it would check war, just as the police force checked crime.

The League was going through an evolutionary period, said Mr. J. T. Martin. It had now discovered its weaknesses, which would have to be remedied. He believed that the League would yet find other ways and means of carrying out its work. “We know the League is passing through a trying period; it has been shaken to its foundations,” commented the president, Mr. 0. J. B. Norwood. “Even now, however, it has done more than some people realise. It has brought nations together, and it has done a marvellous work for the good of humanity. It would be a most serious matter if the League was to be entirely abandoned. I cannot think that even the intellects of Germany would feel that that was in the best interests of international relations.” Mr. Nejwood hoped that all nations would give their support to the Imperial Government. They were indeed pleased that the New Zealand Government had not neglected this problem. The League knew no colour, and it was to be hoped that by some reconstruction all nations outside of the League would be brought into it. It was also to be hoped that new interest would arise in tie United States of America, and that it would come into the League. Mr. Cory-Wright: I think that is coming, sir.