THE FUTURE'S HOPE.

Evening Star, Issue 18259, 26 April 1923, Page 9

THE FUTURE'S HOPE.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS’ WORK. In tho dark years of 1914-18 tho people were nerved to fresh sacrifices and endeavors by tho assurance that it was a war to end war. To-day tho prospect seems much loss near; but out of those terrible times there sprang into being an organisation which still represents tho hope and determination of humanity that it will one day wipe out tho curse of war—tho League of Nations.

It was fitting that in ilic ceremonies of Anzac Day the League should be remembered and its meaning again impressed on the people, as was done by the public meeting in the evening m the Empire Theatre. Tim meeting was hold under the auspices of the local council of tho League of Nations Union. Mr J. T. Paul presided. The origin, growth, and work of tho League wore dismissed at length in an address by Miss M. H. King (principal of tho Otago Girls’ High School). Tho growth of the League was traced from the original membership of the Allied Powers, until to-day, when it included fifty-two States. Miss King made a strong caso for tho inclusion of Germany in tho League. Only three groat Powers were outside it—America, Germany, and Russia. America, though she had not ratified tho covenant, had boon officially connected with the League’s relief work, and with tho organising work undertaken by several of the Commissions, and there were signs that the mind of tho people was beginning to favor her entry into the League. If tho League was to become what it was intended in be, Germany could not be forever excluded. The speaker argued that the Gorman people as a whole wore not responsible for tho war; that they had been rushed into war by tho War Party. Tho history of war, she declared, showed that people had almost invariably boon hurried into war in this way. She argued that without tho inclusion of a great and rich country like Germany it was not possible to build a stable world, and that ono day Russia,. too. would take her seat among tho Council of the Nations. Miss King pointed out that the very constitution of tho League was in itself a certain measure of protection against war. These fiftytwo States had made a solemn agreement not to go to war until all possibb means of settling disputes had been exhausted; nor would they go to war until tho matters in dispute had been talked over for at least nine months Disputes were to be discussed as fir as possible in public. There would bo no working in the dark; no secret diolomatic understandings. No secret alliances could bo entered into, and treaties had to be revised every ten years. Dealing with the work of the League, tho speaker showed how it had already prevented two wars, settled boundary disputes, set up an international court of justice, relieved the starv ing peoples of Central Europe, attacked the white slave and opium traffics, and laid the foundation for the future co-operation of the nations for the benefit of humanity. In her dosing remarks she dealt trenchantly with critics who said the League was costing too much by contrasting the work already accomplished by it with the devastation and loss of life and wealth caused bv war. 8-hc quoted the enormous sums expended on the navies and armies, while the cost of the beneficent activities of tho League last year had boon limited to £1,000,000, which was distributed over fifty-two States. Tho way to understanding was much less costly than the other method, taking into account the cost in manhood and progress. It was flm way to understanding and brotherhood, and was the belter way. «

A vote of thanks was nererdod In Miss King for her address, _nnd n .osolution carried on Ibo motion 'if Mr ]•'. Jones, seconded by Mr P. Neilson -- “ That ibis meeting expresses its ",i----tiro sympathy with Ihn aims and objects of the Lea cm nf Nations, and considers it desirable that a great m* number of adherents should join the Tlnnodin brarmh of tho League of Nations Union.”