LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 20587, 12 September 1930, Page 8

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Once more representatives of most of the world’s Powers, great and small, have gathered at Geneva to further the interests of peace. If, the yearly Assembly has not achieved aIJ that was hoped, it can point to a substantial measure of accomplishment iii promoting harmony among tlio nations, and in a more concrete form in settling differences of opinion that presented ugly possibilities. So long as the great Powers maintain the attitude incumbent on them by the terms of tho League Covenant, Lo-

carno, and the Kellogg Pact, tho moral effect will bo sufficient to keep smaller countries who show unruly tendencies in chock. At the tenth Assembly last year no less than fifty-one States took part, and tho gathering wl ; ch began its proceedings on Wednesday was expected to bo equally well attended. Some idea of the scope of tho work that tho Assembly undertakes is gained from the fact that one of its first tasks is tho appointment of six committees to deal respectively with legal and constitutional questions, tho work of tho technical organisations, disarmament and security, the budget and administration of the League, social and humanitarian problems, and political questions. From a perusal of tho agenda it would appear that the eleventh Assembly is going to be a very important one. I'he main objective of the League is to keep peace in tho world, but embraced in its constitution is provision for dealing with many aspects of tho life of tho modem State, the aim being to increase the security, tho comfort, the health, tho standard of living, and the general well-being of its people. In the matter of peace several questions are set clown for discussion that require delicate handling. Among them is the disarmament situation as it was left at the conclusion of the London Naval Conference, and another is further consideration of the muchcanvassed programme of the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference, by means of which League enthusiasts hope an impetus will be given to the ideal of world peace that will have far-reaching consequences. Another matter of first-rate importance, which has been under discussion for years, is the draft Treaty of Financial Assistance. This provides a scheme by which the League Council may put at the disposal of a State that has been attacked, or is in danger of attack, substantial but clearly limited international credits guaranteed by a number of States. The idea is that should a State become the victim of aggression rapid and effective means of help would be provided to avert war or to cause hostilities to cease without the assisting States being committed to undefined risks and military operations. In order to further strengthen tho antiwar machinery the Assembly will review the General Convention for strengthening the means to prevent war. This convention pledges the signatories to accept measures for keeping the peace. One of these —and a very important one—is the withdrawal of troops behind the frontier at the request of the League Council. Many a War has been precipitated by the acts of nervous frontier forces in times of tension. Still another question bearing directly on tho keeping of the peace is the proposal to amend the Covenant so that it shall harmonise with the Paris Peace Pact and give assent to the declaration that in no circumstances may a member of the League resort to war, and that all the members undertake to settle their disputes by pacific means. When these points are borne in mind, together with many others that come within the scope of tho League’s activities, and the announcement from Geneva that M. Briand’s European federation plan is likely to bo the uppermost topic,’ it will he admitted that the suggestion that this Assembly is likely to be one of tho most important ever held rests on a good foundation.