LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 19387, 22 October 1926, Page 6

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

The League of Nations no longer requires defenders. The greatest tribute that could be paid to tho position it has attained lies in tho statement, frequently made, that, if by any chance it should be destroyed to-day a new League would have to be established to-morrow. Its importance has to be recognised, even in contexts where its mention might appear least relevant. In outlining in the House the policy which he would support at tho Imperial Conference, Mr Coates could not regard his statement as complete till ho had said: “As an instrument for promoting understanding amongst the nations tbo League has already played a worthy part, and its potentialities in the future are most promising. This country stands ready to take every step and to afford every encouragement that may forward the interests of the League and the attainment of the ultimate goal, in so far as these do not impair the interests of the British Empire.” But those interests are not likely to conflict. “There was no nation in his judgment,” said Sir James Allen in an address last night, “that exercised so great an inline nee in tho League to-day as Great Britain.” It is surely significant that of all tho men of Ministerial standing in New Zealand the two who have given the strongest support to tho League by their public statements have been tbo two who have known most about it, having attended its Assemblies, and two of the most hard-headed, who would bo among the last to be accused of letting their judgment be swayed by mere sentimentalism. They are Sir James Allen and Sir Francis Bell. The League does not need defenders, but it still needs and will always need workers, in its constituencies, as they might be called, as well as at Geneva, and tlie Dunedin branch of the League of Nations Union has been doing its full work in that respect. It is no weakling branch that, at tho commencement of its sixth year of existence, claims a thousand financial members. Those who attended its annual mooting last night were fortunate in their opportunity of hearing an address on tho whole work of the 'League by Sir James Allen, because no one else in New Zealand at the present time could speak on that subject with an equal knowledge. Sir James lias attended all tho Assemblies of the League from tho first one till that of March last. Though he was frank to the last degree in his description of the difficulties that encompass it, ho is evidently very much of an optimist for it. He has no doubt that Spain and Brazil will return to tho League, ns tho Argentine has just dono after her fit of pique. Meanwhile Germany has been admitted, and the only ex-enemy country that is not now a member is Turkey. In a year from now she may he included. Sir James referred to the intense national sentiment of many of the small nations of Europe, resulting in the setting up of tariff restrictions that were arousing great ill-feeling, but a movement has now commenced for the reduction of those obstacles to development and amity which is more likely to grow than to recede. The real, solid work of the League, Sir James Allen believes, is not seen in any resolution or action so much as in the cultivation of friendship in the committee room and around tho council tables. It ia easy to understand how, in an institution in which, something like fifty nations are represented, that ‘itself may bo one of the greatest influences for co-operation and peace.