LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 16

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

"NOT A SPENT FORCE"

MR. W. J. JORDAN'S VIEWS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, December 30.

Mr. W. J. Jordan (High Commissioner) has now paid two visits to Geneva to attend meetings of the League of Nations Council, of which New Zealand is a member. He has, therefore, had an opportunity at first hand of forming opinions about the League. "I do not think it is a spent force by any means," he declared upon his return to London shortly before Christ- | mas. "I feel that the League can and will do much , valuable work. There is no doubt that it has been weakened extremely, and made only partially effective, by the absence of four great Powers. But, given a return of world prosperity and the possibility of increased international trade, it is to be hoped that there will be an improvement in the relations of the various countries, so that these Powers may be induced to re-enter. For the League to fulfil its purpose it is most important that they should." Referring to the statement made by Mr. Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, that the British Government did not regard New Zealand's proposals concerning the League as being practicable at the present time, Mr. Jordan said that the Dominion's proposals were evidently impracticable because the League had not the will to adopt them. Technically, there was nothing impracticable about them. If they were impracticable, then the whole policy of the League must be also. However, the New Zealand Government had said that they would not demur to alternative proposals with the same objective. Mr. Jordan declared that a visit to Geneva and to the League of Nations building was an experience that could never be gained in the Dominion. It was extremely interesting to see the representatives of the various countries, and providing one spoke French or English, there was no difficulty in understanding the proceedings, since translations were made immediately by the most capable interpreters. "The utmost good fellowship exists between the various delegates, which is an important factor for the success of the ultimate deliberations," said Mr. Jordan. "There is, however, some confusion of feeling, and a prevailing fear of war, with a genuine desire to avert it." Mr. Jordan was greatly interested to see the League's new buildings, which cover 30 acres,; Some of them are not yet complete. The work of erection is being effected by 300 to 500 workmen from 10 different nations. The structures are palatial, and the main assembly hall is capable of seating 2000. There are seygp committeerooms, some of which seat as many as 600. The High Commissioner was naturally interested to find that one of the rooms is panelled with New Zealand woods.