TO PREVENT WAR

Evening Star, Issue 19387, 22 October 1926, Page 2

TO PREVENT WAR

CHEATING A WORLD CONSCIOUS WORK OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS ADDRESS BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. That the public opinion created throughout tho world by the League of Nations will in the future ho the determining factor between any two nations who want to settle then disnute by the final arbitrament of arms was tho opinion expressed by Sir James Alien, who, in Burns Hall last night, lectured to an attendance of about JUU on the aims and objects of the League. The lecturer’s intimate acquaintance, durum his term of six years as the New “Zealand High Commissioner in London, with the questions concerning the League and its work enabled him to impart most interesting first-hand knowledge of the situation. Sir James, who received an enthusiastic reception, said the attendance showed the interest in the inovements which had followed the signing of tho Versailles Treaty. Tho most important work of the League was in spreading personal influence in respect to its object Neither America nor Russia was yet a member of the America, however, was associated with a number of technical organisations closely related to the League, and hor sympathies were largely with the League and its objects. The speaker referred to the interest which America was taking in the movement for the association of the nations bordering on fhe Pacific; America realised tho necessity of these nations coming together to'prevent war. If America succeeded in bringing such nations together, what would tho relation of such organisation ho to the League of Psations? They might each continue to work separately and confer, or they might unite to form one organisation. The same motive was behind both, the leading of people to realise that there was something bettor than war for settling disputes. THE LEAGUE’S DIEEICULTIES. At meetings of the League Assembly, one could not help noticing . the display of national feeling, said Sir James. One of the greatest diflicultles was to prevent had feeling among the small nations. Other difficulties which faced the League were tho tariff restrictions which one country raised against another—restrictions in trade and commerce. Difficulties had also arisen over the admission of Germany, the speaker pointing out that, through circumstances connected with this Spain and Brazil had resigned from the League. It would rot ho long, however, before thev would be back.

THE LEAGUE’S CONSTITUTION. Sir James went on to explain the constitution of the League. There was the Assembly, like the Parliament,and the Council, which liked to he considered _as the Government, with executive powers. A check, however, had to bo kept on the executive powers. The difficulty of an executive body was not yet altogether solved. On all important questions apart from technical matters the decision had to lie unanimous. One member of the council or assembly could veto any proposal. These difficulties, however, wore not insuperable, and in time would bo solved. Another important branch of the League was the .secretariat, at Genova, the head of which was an Englishman (Sir Eric Drummond), whose private secretary was a New’ Zealander (Mr Wilson). Another Now Zealander (Mr Chapman) was on the secretariat, and another was to be appointed. Tho British delegation, like that of other countries, met at Geneva to discuss questions coming forward, and votes. No nation exorcised such a high influence in the League to-day as Great Britain. (Applause.) The Irish Free State had represented that the British dominions wore not adequately represented on tho Council or the League, and there was a great deal in its contention. Compared with the representatives of tho South American States, tho British dominions did seem to be entitled to greater representation. While the covenant provided for disarmament and the cessation of war, it went somewhat further—it provided for the protection of races which were not able to help themselves. This was done by means of mandates, and in this way much was looked for from Now Zealand. In additiouto the mandates, the covenant provided lor an International Court of Justice. The Americans were anxious to take part in this court, and ho would not he surprised if she joined in that organisation. Then there was the International Labor Office. Questions had been brought before tho Labor Office which concerned only particular _ countries, and which were not international questions. Experience, however, would remedy that. The covenant also provided for the League’s blessing on Red Cross organisations all over the world. It wag thought the Bed Cross organisations should he used in various countries to combat disease and to deal with epidemics. GOODWILL CREATED. Pc vend of tbo articles of the Covenant were absolutely indefinite. Had some of the articles—those, for instance, dealing with economic, pressure and military assistance—been mure definite, they would probably not have been signed. Certain countries in Europe wtill lacked a sense of security. Round the tables at Geneva a greater feeling of goodwill was being created, and would help considerably towards the solving of tho innumerable prqblems facing the world. Apart from the various committees of the League, there were tho technical organisations dealing with many different problems. It was difficult sometimes for those organisations to know what to deal with and what to leave alone. Sometimes faddists introduced schemes which had no right to come there. For international co-operation and tho peace of the world the Covenant stood. If questions likely to cause trouble between nations couldnotbo settled by conciliation or arbitration, then dispute could bo referred to the Assembly. If nothing came of tho conciliation or of the arbitration, then tho League, published the facts to the world; if a settlement was not reached, then tho facts wore published, with a recommendation from the League. When tho facts were published the nations concerned had to face the public conscience of the world. This public feeling would in the future ho a great determining factor when nations wanted to go to war. Tho matter of the publicity of the facts was, for that reason, an important one. MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS,

In the work of economic restoration the League had done worthy service to Hungary and Austria. Giving assistance to those countries in that way made the world realise that the League Was there for a good purpose. With ami America outside the Lcagno economic pressure could not he very well enforced. The Covenant made no definite stipulation with regard to military assistance In case of aggros sion ; that could only he a. recommendation of the Council. Though he'was a firm believer m the purposes of tho League, he must say it was not yet perfect. In many instances it. had failed. Ho referred to the outbreak between the Italians and the Greeks, when both broke the Covenant. The difficulty was settled outside the League, but when the public conscience of the world made itself felt the Italian delegate promised (hat Italy would not break the Covenant again. (Applause.) Three years ago the Assembly made provision for treaties of mutual assistance, but veiy few nations agreed to ratify the proposals. At next Assembly an attempt was made to make the Covenant more clear and definite by a protocol. This waj an attempt

to provide for compulsory instead of voluntary arbitration, and to make the economic nressur© definite. It was an attempt to prevent nations from organising their resources, but this was impossible. The League was also up against the problem of different mentalities. The Anglo-Saxon was out. for instance, for the prevention of aggression; the Latin was out for the punishment of tho aggressor. The fate of the Protocol depended upon the mentality of the various nations considering it. In his closing remarks Sir James Allen referred to the slogan of “Arbitration, Security, and Disarmament.” He noiutod out the great difficulty of defining these three things. The only solid basis was tho creation throughout the' world of a moral conscience and good-will rendering disarmament and tho other things practicable. The League of Nations Union in Dunedin could have no better purpose than instilling among its members the idea of the creation of a better feeling. Let tho members spread that feeling to their Government and through it to other Governments of the world. There were weaknesses in the League, hut they were gradually losing them. The influences or clicmes had been felt, but that was dying away. Sir James also referred to the need in other countries of room for their increasing populations. If we adopted a policy of exclusiveness and did not take some of the population of the Mother Country wo might be creating difficulties not only with her, but also with other nations of the world. There was also the difficulty in respect to trade. Some countries were short of raw materials, but that would be a verv difficult matter to solve. Tho league had been asked to regulate or control the supply of raw material from one country to another. That raised very serious difficulties, but the League had decided that the raw materials of any country were at its own disposal. He was glad to know these League of Nations Unions existed in New Zealand. He had sent carefully prepared reports to the Government in New Zealand, and the renorts that were now coming were being made public. He recommended them to get copies of these reports to keep them in touch with what was going ou so far as their delegate could do so. (Applause.) VOTE OF THANKS.

Sir James was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks for his address. Dr A. G. Fisher made an appeal for increased membership and support of the local branch oi the League. AHHUAY MEETING Prior to the address by Sir James the annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the League of Nations Union was held. Sir Charles Statham presided!© adoption of the annual report was moved by the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse. who said it revealed praiseworthy activity during the year. It was satisfactory to report an increase in membership, a promise for much, more vigorous life in tho future. The secretary (Mrs Denton. Leech) had performed very valuable work during the year. The speaker referred to the portion of the report exhorting members to_ endeavor to use more personal activity in promoting the objects of League and increasing the membership, and trusted it. would lend to good results. Mr A. Burn, in seconding the motion, noiiitixl out that tho membership oi the local branch was now over a thousand, this being a tribute to tho excellent and energetic work of tho secretary. The report was adopted without further dismission The following office-bearers were elected;—Patron, th© Mayor (Mr 11, L. Tapley, M.P..); president, Sir Charles Statham, M.P,; chairman of council, Rev, H. E. Bellhouse, M.A. : vice-presi-dents—Dr G, E. Thompson, Right Rev. the Bishop of Dunedin, Messrs A. Burn, H. K. Wilkinson: council—Rev. A. Astor, Messrs W. F. Alexander, A. G. Cameron, H. C. Campbell, Jacob Crow, H. G. "Elliffo, Willi Pels, H. G. Ferguson, A. G. B. Fisher, Dr Lawson, Fred Jones, Jas. Hutchison, W. H. Johnstone, J. M’Crae. Dr E. N. Herrington, J. T. Raul, Miss F. Ross, bliss J. Runcimau, Messrs H. T. Sanders, J. B. Shaddock, Mrs Strong, and Mr Fred Waite, M.P. Mr J. A. Greenfield was re-elected honorary treasurer, Messrs Barr, Kerens, and Co. were re-elected honorary auditors, and Messrs Moucly, Stephens, Monro, and Stephens were re-elected honorary solicitors.