WORK FOR PEACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10740, 10 November 1928, Page 11

WORK FOR PEACE.

A remarkable assemblage, league op nations in ACTION. PIETY NATIONS REPRESENTED. (Special To The Times). LONDON, Oct. 1. mere are many close students of tile League of Nations and its work, many who faithfully read the ample documents dealing with each year s Assembly and the work of the But it is wrong to assume that the great majority, of people, in every nation, while acquainted in a general way with the high principles embodied in the League, «nd *ntormed of the chief subjects of debate at its gatherings, have little clear khowledge of the actual character, procedure, and the work of this remarkable assemblage. Remarkable assemblage it undoubtedly is. There has been nothing like it before in history. What ever preconceived ideas one may hold -—and it is difficult for anyone not to view with considerable scepticism proposals to abolish war—there are certain features of the Assembly, when you see it in action for the first time, which simply comoel any serious-minded person ito pause and think. There is the fact, for instance, that fifty nations ate ropiesented. There may be notable absentees, it is true, in the United States, Russia and Brazil, but, with these _ exceptions and a few others of minor importance, the Assembly is a gathering, or parliament of ail the nations of the world, < teat and small.

Another thing is that the individual calibre of the representation also is high. France’s chief delegate this year is that great and eloquent Foreign Minister, M. Briand; Britain’s, her acting Foreign Minister, Lord Cushendun; Germany’s, the Chancellor of the Reich, Herr Herman Muller; Italy’s, the eminent Professor Scialoja (a former Foreign Minister and now holding other portfolios); Japan’s, the. talented iVL M. Adatii. This is to name only the representatives of the live great powers. In the case of nations of lesser rank there are delegates -ffiQse names aie equally illustrious in their own country’s affairs, whose • opinions and counsel are highly assesed by the League. There are no fewer than 5 Prime Ministers present as delegates, 17 Foreign Afmisters, 61 Ambassadors and Ministers Plenipotentiary, 3 High Commisioners of British Dominions, and many members of different parliaments' and governments. Altogether, with sub-delegates, technical advisers, and secretaries, thetotal of all the delegates is 453. Then there is as an integral part of this gathering the huge Permanent Secretariat that fixes effect to the decisions of the League and of the Council, which in itself is a remarkable international organisation, or civil service, a body the like of which has never before existed. There are also the two other main League creations, equally unique; the permanent Court of International Justice, and International Labor Office, which, though they do not come directly into the- sphere of working of the Assembly or Council, are each the product of the League, and more or less under its control—certainly so far as provision for their finances is concerned. . These are what might be termed surface features, things which instantly impress one on a first acquaintance with the Assembly in session. They give an idea of immenseness —of the real proportions of this great creation of mankind to end war—of an organisation powerful and solid, to which civilisation js applying its utmost practical ability and resource to perfect and render more and still more effective. And this impression grows as there is closer acquaintance with the League. and the great amount of practical work it- already has achieved, the wide range of its operations, the sum of the settlements of disputes it has helped to effect, the stupendous effort it, is making in its enormous literary output to permeate the world with the gospel of neaceful methods—with the very hveness, earnestness, and efficiency nf the organisation. To view the League m its remote mountain-girt home from a distance to regard it as a loftv ideal, noble in its intentions, but important, because of unchanged human nature, to fulfil its aims, is one thing. To become intimate with its workings, and associated with those who are applving earnestness, patience and faith to the tq?k of developing out of it that condition of affairs for which Christendom has been praying for centuries, is another. STRENGTH OF DELEGATIONS.

It might prove interesting to indicate the relative forces brought loathe Assembly by some _of the countries and also b v the British Dominions. Great Britain herself appears on the Delegation list as the “.British Empire.’ - There were reasons for this when the League was first formed, but it is sufficient here to state that if one now-a-days. asks for an explanation, one is told that it is because the term embraces the other parts of the Empire outside the Dominions and India. Britain lias a delegation of 25, which includes 3 main delegates, 2 substitutes, 10 experts from the various branches of the Service, a Secretary-General to the delegation, a Foreign Office Press Officer, while the remainder are private secretaries. France has 26, Germany 20, Italy 25, Japan 25. Coming to smaller countries, we find Persia has 7, Venezuela 6, Siam 8, Abyssinia 4, Finland 11, Greece 10, Hungary 18, and so on. . . , ~ On the British Dominion’s side (which likewise call generally upon their High Commissioners in London for chief representation), Canada has 12, Australia 7, New Zealand 3, South Africa 11. the Irish Free State 6, and India. 13. This year, New Zealand’s delegation composes Sir James Parr as principal delegate Major-General Sir George Bichardson as substitute, and Mr. C. Knowles, ’ the High Commissioner’s private secretary, who also acts as a substitute on committee work. As the work of the assembly is planned out on a basis of three delegates and three ' substitute-delegates to a country, it - can be imagined thai the lot of the New Zealand delegation is not an easy one while the conference lasts. ■ . , . r . . Besides the sittings of the Assembly, 'there afe” nix, committees which deal primarily with all Aw-wm-blv agenda' 'subjects and are necessarily of great importance, and these committees meet in two groups, .of Three at the same hour, i.e., ihrec committees are sitting at the srnne ■time J lt'tis most advisable the Dominion should have regular representation at? the committee meetings, because in this gathering, of the natfon, Ihere Ts b |. «»££ « IK I absences are noted. lhe Boa ' 0 either m assembly or by cemm'it’tces, meets each /morning and S' ernoon, 'lncluding Saturdays, and cnSimes m the evenings, and wlmn there does come in ail mex--nccted gap, there is generally a of British Empire delegates tS be attended by Dominion representatives. it will thus be seen .that •k+V-ndance at League of Nation s by no means a /.noCl 'x+"is worthy of note that the Bri{“'tST Staff <nZ more Hjan one.