A STRONGER LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 10

A STRONGER LEAGUE

EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

Under the auspices of the Lower Hutt League of Nations Union, Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P., last evening delivered an interesting address on the objects and history of the League of Nations.

Mr. Lyon said that injustice had been inflicted on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. In spite of the fact that Germany was treated as an inferior and was not allowed to arm, she had come into the League with every intention of honestly helping forward the cause of peace. She had asked that if she was not allowed to arm, other nations should also be disarmed, but this request had been refused. Even when the young republic was superseded by a dictatorship there had been, at first, a desire to do the right thing, but soon there evolved from the early Socialist doctrine the complete dictatorship, and the present Government determined to "make Germany a strong military nation. Germany was not allowed to arm, so like the small boy debarred from smoking, she did it secretly, and soon created one of the 'most definitely military nations ever known. Because she was disarmed she had evolved a new type of'battleship and new types of guns which were more effective than the old ones of other nations. She had left the League because it stood between her and her military aims.

ITALY'S GRIEVANCE,

Italy had gone Fascist because she felt that she had beerl unjustly treated as one of the Allies. She. had been promised as a reward of.joining the Allies that she should have control of the Adriatic, but France, jealous of her power, had seen that Italy was not granted her reward.

It was constantly being asked why Japan had been allowed into Manchuria, why Italy was not stopped in her conquest of Abyssinia, why the war was allowed to continue in Spain. The whole trouble was the spirit of distrust which existed between nations. That was the reason why the League was ' ineffective. In regard to Manchuria, France and Germany were mutually distrustful of each other, and nothing was done, and in regard to Abyssinia, France had made a sorry spectacle of herself,, her want of courage having allowed Italy to work her will. ■

Britain was also in-a sorry position because hitherto she had not had the courage to stand up to the implications of the Covenant.

Italy was seeking control of the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal, and because of mutual distrust it looked as if she would be allowed to attain her object, and communications vital to Britain would be closed. Japan was seeking control of the most important port in the world —Shanghai.

MAKING THE LEAGUE EFFECTIVE.

How, then, could the League be made more effective? The only way was to rouse public opinion against war in every country in the world, for the leaders could never prevail against an organised public opinion. The vital thing was to get rid of the spirit of distrust and the only way that could b&' done was by a free exchange of ideas. To do this a common international language was a necessity. This was not impracticable, for English was rapidly becoming an international language. Nearly all European countries had abandoned French and adopted English as the language of trade and this was- one of the most hopeful signs. The churches could do a lot, indeed, he believed the churches could stop war. Given an international language radio could render the greatest service to the cause of peace.

On the motion of the Rev. J. Thomson Macky, Mr. Lyon was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.