A LEAGUE OF NATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10084, 24 September 1918, Page 3

A LEAGUE OF NATIONS

(To the-Editor “Nda. Times.”),, Sir,—Your leading ,article in. Monday b issue is ..accepted toy . many as .a a>Jution to t.Ue war problem. Iliat tnere must be a power to enforce order is also granted. Hut the torm that power shall take has not received' the attention from either public writers "or speakers that such a- subject deserves;.. A discussion ,through due columns ;oj the “Times'' from correspondents could only help to pave the way- for a solution of ‘this'' knotty' 'pfo-bltitf. , In - making such i\ suggestion, please permit mo to oit'er my quota to the 'ilia' Supremo International Council should consist of elected members, say. one representative for each ten millions of population, the smaller States to combine to make up their quota. , This Council could decree the collection and destruction of all .arms and armament, also warlike munitions and micJr-'Sp’ecial' plhht for their manufacture that could not ho turned to a useful purpose. A powerful navy would be all-suffi-cient to maintain order among the nations. Here we have the stumbling block! 'Which navy? If it is to have international power, it must be an international navy. Tho manning, of.,such.a.avy is well within present-day. politics. ~ A - universal lau••uago is essential, and tills is met by ‘ho now well-known Esperanto. Such a navv could bo made an attractive profession which would draw to itself a highly intelligent and self-respecting class of men where punishment for habitual misdemeanour, if any, could be met by dismissal in place of the cat-o’-nine-tails. For the first generation or so it mignt be stipulated that the three chief officers on each vessel should be of originally" different nationalities, and -the crews to bo equally apportioned among the nations of the world, all speaking the same language, all sworn to revoke (heir original nationalities, and ail sworn to fealty to'the International. Finality is riot suggested in the above outline. There must be many writers nnd r thinkers' with schemes deep in their cranium*, which would be interesting and instructive if laid-before the public I am. etc., , J. MILLER.