LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18752, 4 January 1923, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ARRIVAL OF CAPTAIN THOMAS IN AUCKLAND. APATHY OF ENGLISH PEOPLE. (Feom Oub Owk Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 3. The need for a deep and widespread interest in the League of Nations throughout the Empire was spoken of in an interviey by Captain A. E. W. Thomas, who arrived from Sydney by the Niagara. Captain Thomas, who is on the lecturing staff of the League of Nations Union, is at present on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. " Australian people were very interested in my propaganda and educational work,” said Captain Thomas, but it is quite evident that the League of Nations’ idea has not yet caught on, as it must do if it is to carry out the great ideals it stands for. It is just tho same in England. There has been a fair amount of opposition to the league there, mainly from vested interests, but the worst enemy which we have to faco is the apathy 'of the people. They have not fully realised tho enormous power for good which tho league may become. News from London and Lausanne concerning the Near Eastern situation is of a most disquieting nature. It is even hinted n press reports that another war may be imminent. One would almost have scoffed at such an idea'a while ago after all the world has just come through, and yet if the Lausanne Conference breaks down, os it seems not unlikely, it is difficult to prophesy what may-' happen. Is there no way, wo may ask, of averting an outbreak of hostilities? There is a way, a sure way, but it will not be adopted unless the peoples of the world, and especially the British Empire, demand that, it shall be adopted, and that is the way of the League of Nations. “ Good work has already been done by tho league] 9 ’ continued Captain Thomas, “ but the league is only the machinery, and, like air machinery, will not work of itself. It requires driving power, the great driving power of public opinion. Without this, the league cannot hope to succeed While in New Zealand I hope to bo able to address many of your people, and give them a clearer idea of the things for which tho league stands, and of the great necessity for strong support from all Great Britain’s dominions.” Captain Thomas left for Rotorua to-day. Later on he will carry out propaganda work ill connection with the league in the south.