MACHINERY FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22259, 6 November 1935, Page 16

MACHINERY FOR PEACE

PACIFIC INSTITUTE CONFERENCE AT LONDON In a report presented to the New Zealand Institute of Pacific Relations by Dr. G. H. Scholefield who, with Dr. R. M. Campbell, represented the Dominion at the international studies conference on collective security held in London last June, it was stated that too much attention was being paid to tho creation of machinery for the prevention of war and not sufficient to the foundations on which the machinery was based.

It -was emphasised time and again at the conference, at -which there were 74 delegates, said Dr. Scholefield, that war seldom produced just settlements. The Great War was no exception in this respect and has left certain powerful nations with grievances which are frankly recognised even by countries which have gained by their spoliation. It is practically hopeless, continues the report, to set up machinery based on the acceptance and perpetuation of .these injustices, leaving it to the slow process of time either to rectify them or to reconcile the aggrieved. It was suggested at the conference that Germany, for example, had her remedy in the treaty and all that was required was for her "to come into conference." Small countries, which have benefited by the treaty, have declared emphatically that they will not hear of revision and so the question arises to what tribunal may Germany appeai. Certain French delegates approached the question saying that a necessary altruism was called for in the interests of the nations. Professor de la Pradelle, who was later called away to preside over the Italy-Abyssinia arbitration, said the respect for obligations rested with the principlo'of freely given consent, otherwise the pretended agreement of the parties depended in reality on force and not on voluntary consent.