The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1924. AMERICA AND THE LEAGUE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 August 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1924. AMERICA AND THE LEAGUE.

Delivered esery evening by S o’clock in Ha wen,. Manaia. N^manby. Okaiawa, . Eltbam, Paten, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oiiangai, Meremere. Fraser Road, and Otakeuo Manutahi, Alton, Hurley ville, Mangatokl, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

The statements of Mr. J. W. Davis published in Tuesday’s cable news indicate that the League of Nations issue is to be raised during the campaign for the United States Presidency, and it will be very interesting to see if public opinion in the Republic has undergone any great change since 1919 when, after the return of the late President Wilson, it was decided that the United States refuse to enter the League, on the ground that if America did become a member she would be in danger of becoming involved in international entanglements which she had at all times most anxiously desired to escape Dr. Wilson was widely denounced, and the great hope of the world—the League of Nations—suffered a great blow before it had had a chance to become effective. America’s decision, however, did not prevent the League being formed and, though labouring under very serious difficulties, it has been able to do excellent work in certain directions. How much has been lost through America’s refusal to take her part as a member cannot be estimated, but it is reasonable to think that the League would have been a much greater power for peace had it enjoyed the support of the United States. The British people have been very keen that the League should be a. success, and they have .at all times endeavoured to bring the nations together to settle disputes by arbitration instead of resorting to force. Had the British hopes of the League been realised the reparations problem would probably have been settled by the League many months ago, but France has not been willing to refer the question to the League. Perhaps she would have acted differently had America and Britain been associated in the League and been able to show France that they were in agreement upon the difficult problem. America has unfortunately been for the most part a spectator of the European problems for the last five years, and it is hard to believe that such a. position represents the real character of her people. The people of the United States pride themselves on being idealists, and we have no doubt that as a. nation they are as peace-loving as the people of the British Empire, but it is difficult to bring them to see things in the same light. The American view seems to fiave been that the European nations must settle their own affairs and show that they will not again resort to war, before America can agree to give the assistance which is required to restore Europe’s economic position. There are, however, indications that the American attitude is changing, and wo find that the ;.wo candidates for the Presidency have a definite policy concerning European affairs." President Coolidge supports the World Court plan, which the late President Harding advocated; Mr. J. W. Davis favours the League of Nations, and thinks that American opinion will change and that she will ultimately become a member of the League. It is interesting to note that in American papers a great deal of space has been given to views upon, the question of how to make war so unattractive that nations will not adopt it as the means of settling their disputes, and prizes have been given to those who have set out the best plans for maintaining the world’s peace. No doubt the influence of the articles is good, and to it may be due to some extent the declarations of the candidates for the Presidency, the one supporting a World Court; the other the League of Nations. In Britain the advocates of the League of Nations have carried on a campaign in support of it for a long time past, and there are signs that the two great English speaking nations are drawing closer together in mutual friendship and in a, desire to use their influence to maintain peace and goodwill upon the earth. We do not suppose that it matters much whether it be a World Court, the League of Nations, or an organisation having some other name, so long as an effective body is formed that will prove to be a really reliable means for preventing war-. The League of Nations had its birth in days of great uncertainty and, though it has been as a beacon giving light and hope in the dark and stormy seas, many of the nations have had but a precarious hold upon the rock upon which they were invited through the League to build the permanent structure of peace. The British Empire has consistently supported the League, and has endeavoured to bring the other nations into it and to make it what its founders desired it to be. At times the outlook has been very discouraging, but the desire which is being manifested by America to take a part in ensuring the tvorld’s peace brings a, new hope, and it is to be hoped that before long the prophecy made by Mr. Davis will prove to be correc'. British people have for long thought that America could do much ro help the cause of peace, and they have found it difficult to understand why she has stood aside and not taken her part.