NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1934. WILL RUSSIA JOIN?

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1934, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1934. WILL RUSSIA JOIN?

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper.

The reports that Russia is to join the League of Nations next month, and that the country is to be given a permanent seat at the Council table, are of very real importance. Whether they be founded on fact, or whether the wish is father to the thought, remains to be seen, though it must be conceded that such a development would not be surprising, for the reason that Russia and the other nations have come closer together in recent years. Russia, on her part, has indicated a realisation that it is not good to live alone, while the nations, as a whole, have come to the conclusion that the attempted outlawry of the great Russian Empire is not in the interests of. the world at large. It has been freely admitted that the absence of Russia from the League of Nations has very seriously handicapped the efforts to promote; world peace, that have been made at Geneva. Had Russia been, a member, and her weight been pooled with that of the other members, there is little doubt that the League would not have suffered the loss of prestige which followed upon Japan’s action in'Manchukuo, to mention only one outstanding instance in recent history. Russia, of course, has openly, and at times offensively, criticised the League, but passage of years brings change of opinion, and the nations will do themselves a disservice if they do not regard as sincere Russia’s profession of a new outlook upon international relationships. It is clear that if the League of Nations is to function in the manner visualised by its originator, it must be*representative of all the nations, not some of them only. For these reasons, it is to be hoped that circumstances Avill be such in September as to make possible an urgently needed enlargement of the League of Nations.