COLLECTIVE ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22223, 25 September 1935, Page 16

COLLECTIVE ACTION

PAST THEORIES RECALLED LEAGUE POLICE FORCE DOUBTS THAT STILL APPLY BY QUEST The possibilities which lie before the members of the League of Nations in consequence of the Italian-Abyssinian trouble give renewed interest to the discussion which took place in Britain toward the end of last year upon the question of creating an "international police force" for collective security. The idea of the supporters of this method was that the' League itself phould become a super-State and control the force, which it was thought might be largely an air force. Nothing has been done in this direction. Should there be intervention, the League itself will merely recommend action; it would bo for the members to create their own organisation for direction. Still, ideas expressed in the discussion may have an important bearing upon the eventualities of the immediate future. There can be no question that the weaknesses in the matter of collective security depending upon a standing force under any international authority would in some degree reveal themselves in any other system of joint action. Talse Confidence It seems to have been generally assumed that international disapproval of any nation would compel instant obedience, but is that the general belief to-day ? Mussolini has not deviated one hair's breadth from his original attitude. "If the League were so reckless as to expand a remote colonial campaign into a general European war, which would open the door to every unsatisfied ambition on the Continent or even throughout the world, it would bo upon the League that the guilt would rest." So said Mussolini three weeks ago. In face of this, it is interesting to recall the faith expressed less than 12 months ago in the ability of the nations to force an offender to honour its pledges. However, General Smuts said he could not visualise the League as a military machine, and Mr. Anthony Eden agreed with him. An international, force could not come in an armed world, ho said. The question that is causing anxiety in a million homes to-day is whether the member nations of the League, acting outside the League, could create a military machine that would be proof against all the disintegrating stresses of war. Mr. Amery's Doubts Mr. L. S. Amery, at that time, mentioned the "innumerable technical objections" to a standing international force, its two fundamental difficulties being these: —(1) The League included too many wolves in sheep's clothing and too many watch-dogs with an occasional hankering for a bit of mutton for themselves to be likely ever to show an effective unanimity in suppressing the meat-eating habit; (2) no mechanical scheme, even if constructed for ro desirable an object as the maintenance of world peace, could command those deep-rooted instinctive loyalties for which alone nations were prepared to take great risks and individuals to sacrifice their lives. A coalition, confederation —call it what you will—of League members setting out to apply sanctions involving force —one is tempted to make a grim joke—might soon be a case of "half a league onward." Air-Commodore J. A. Chanier said that the creation of an international air force would be a gambler's leap to certain war, and, to a League riven beyond hope of repair, Vice-Admiral J. D. Allen said that the idea was impracticable, The difficulties they foresaw would apply in a measure to federated forces imposing military sanctions. Against Small Countries The Times disapproved of the idea, but said that three times in a score of years before 1914 the Concert of the Great Fowers, as they then were known, combined in joint action. Crete was policed by international naval contingents in 1889. A few years later there was joint suppression of the Boxer rising in China, and just before the war an English officer, Colonel Phillips, directed with complete success a mixed force which kept order in Northern Albania. In each case, however, the action was taken against weak countries. Italy is strong, and appears to be gambling upon the League members lacking cohesion, even if they had the courage to act. The famous Swedish statesman, Professor Unden, declared last November that the only way to real security in international affairs was through a system of collective security, coupled with controlled disarmament by international agreement. There has been no disarmament in Italy, hence the idea of collective action being effective without any recourse to war is seriously discounted. There are many people who believe that, because disarmament aims have not been realised, but that, on tho contrary, some of the nations, including [taly, are stronger to-day than ever before, the system of collective action has failed, and that, therefore, there is little likelihood of the League applying military sanctions. Nevertheless, there nay he economic sanctions which Italy night try to over-ride by force. In that ?vent the future would be incalculable.