A Lasting Peace

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 21, 23 February 1940, Page 6

A Lasting Peace

WHEN THE WAR ENDS NEED FOR FEDERATION WILL OF THE PEOPLE Suggestions as 1,0 how tin. 1 framework of llie League of Nations could be used after the war to assist in the promotion of a lasting peace were made by .Mr .1. It. Hall, of Wellington, in an address at the conference of the League of Nations Union of New' Zealand. Mr Hall opened bis address with a quotation from the “Manchester Guardian" to the effect that, so long as a hotly of civilised opinion thought that it ought to go to war to defend a particular interest, hut did not care lo go to war to defend a general one, there was little hope of attaining the ends of Ihe League. Nationalism, he said, was the greatest. obstacle in the path of internationalism. Alt of us were brought up in the traditions of nationalism. The political failures of the League of Nations were all due lo a fundamental cleavage bptween national self-inleresL and loyally lo mankind in general. There was a. great failure to live up 1o the vision in the Covenant of the League of a loyalty transcending allsmaller loyalties.

Common Desire “The common peoples of all the world long for peace—the handmaiden Ox' progress." he continued. "If the peoples wish for peace, it should be a simple matter to gain what they desire. We often look forward to such a prospect, hut we are looking through a window' of national consciousness which is too often unbreakable.”

It w'ould be impossible to get much further than the present stage unless the people really governed tilings. Such a demand should come from the people of a country, right over the heads of the national Governments, to an international Government. When the w'ar Was over, the world would be more in the mood for peace than it had been, at least since 1018.

Now- England was at w'ar, the House of Commons, hence the people, was sovereign in England. If the people of the world demanded peace, nothing should be allowed to stand in their way. Three things were wanted, the wish of Ihe people, the organisation, and the means of procedure.

“Whatever the faults of the League.” he went on. "it is there, and its organisation has persisted and developed for twenty years. Get the thought out of your minds that it has completely failed. Politically, perhaps, it has not been successful, but the political part is not to be confused with the w'hole League.

League Successes “The technical sections have made a perhaps unspectacular but nevertheless great advance. It is a fair prophecy that the political failure of the League will he over-ridden by the work of the humanitarian sections of the 1.L.0. If the League goes, the work of these branches cannot exist long, hence the League of Nations has more need of support now than ever before. After the w,ar there is bound to be economic chaos—but without the League there will be anarchy too . . . “There has as yet been no disclosure of England's war aims.l have thought it possible that English wishes to purge Germany—France to smash Germany. May it not be that England will he tied to the chariot-wheel of French wishes?” He expressed hope that at the end of this war there would be a strong and wise man in the position of arbitrator—a Roosevelt where in 1018 there was a Wilson. The chances of a settlement would be better than they were then’—the nations had had twenty years of valuable experience in the League. They must federate. Sacrifices were needed by all Governments. It was possible to start a League in a small way, but a federation could not be started on a smaller scale than as a United States of Europe. There was no hope unless

Control of World the goal was an intern.dimmi mg isation above national organisations. He went on to outline del.Fis such a federation. There was a doubt that a modern national could become at once a citizen of the world and sink his nationalism. There was also a doubt that the fedm-al Govcrnmcn! would he permitted lo rule the City of London. On the oilier hand, it was distinctly possible llial there would be a common system of money, measures, postal services, and communications. The two last touched neither pride nor pocket. It would be necessary to start with a new foundation, yet some of the old League's main ideas and organisation could he used again. He suggested the form of Ihe federal ion. Some of the points he made w'eru: Representation of the various countries on a proportion of two representatives for Ihe Government and three for the people: reference to the people of major issues: armament factories lo he a monopoly of Ihe Governments subject to League control: one-lhird of the armed forces of each country lo be at Ihe disposal of the League in peace or war: the relaxing of trade barriers, but not so as to attack Ihe standard of living: and Ihe return of all colonies no! self-govern-ing in a mandate to Ihe League, which would reissue I hem.