INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22721, 6 November 1935, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

COLLECTIVE SECURITY DISCUSSED IMPRESSIONS OF DR G. H. SCHOLEFIELD An interesting document recently received by the New Zealand Institute of Pacific Relations is the final report of the International Studies Conference oa " Collective Security " held in London last June. The report is a lengthy document, and should prove, along with the preparatory papers, an invaluable source of re-' ference to any. student of international law and relations. The conference was attended on behalf of the New Zealand I.P.R. by Dr G. H. Scholefield and Dr R. SI. Campbell. In the course of a short report made to the National Council of the New Zealand Institute, Dr Scholefield makes the following interesting observations:— " The conference struck both of us, I think, as being of very great importance. There were 74 delegates, including many leading jurists, publicists, and professors from most European countries and North America, and particularly strong delegations from France, Spain, and Great Britain. Germany was represented only by Dr Fritz Berber, who was present by invitation. The Russian Ambassador, Mr Maisky, was also present throughout. " The units represented at the conference, which was arranged by the International Institute of Intellectual Co-opera-tion, are all national groups. That is to say, where in any country more than one organisation is engaged in . these studies their approach to the conference is through a co-ordinating committee. '"With regard to: the delegates,, there is no' restriction as to 6ex. In point of fact, only one,.lady sat in at this conference, but that has no significance. What I do think essential is the point emphasised by Dr Benson a year or two ago—namely, that anyone purporting to take part in such a conference practicallv must have command of French,. even if he cannot speak fluently. - "The. units engaged in international studies are of four", types:— (1) University faculties, (2) whole-time academic institutions giving attention to international studies, (3)-.' short-period courses ;bf approved academic rank, (4) centres of discussion and research. -: Three of these categories are teaching institutions? New Zealand comes within the fourth.

* " The preparatory papers and the 'precis of debates will 'indicate that the main wojk of the conference was directed towards the machinery of collective"security, .the; definition of the. aggressor, the rights of neutrals.'and so ! forth. Th,ese aspects of the-problem have been studied with "remarkable'thoroughness and with "a tolerance' which was hardly to be expected considering that some countries admittedly hold territory and other resources to the detriment and loss 6f others, thus perpetuating an inequality which necessarily engenders; discontent. The discussion in face of this admitted, fact was. for the most part laudably scientific an-I detached. .' ; ,

"What I felt personally was that we were perhaps giving too much study to the creation of machinery for the_ prevention of war and too little to making sure, that the foundations on which it must be based are safe and strong. Those foundations are really the acceptance of the' proposed machinery willingly and freely by .nations which have confidence in • its efficacy for the purpose for which it is set up. It was emphasised again and again that war does not' produce just settlements, and that the Great War was certainjy no better than others in this respect in that it has left certain powerful nations with grievances which are frankly I recognised even in countries which' have profited by their spoliation. In my opinion, it is hopeless to , set up any 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. Professor Zimmern and others were inclined to say that Germany, for example, had her remedy in the Treaty. All she had toVdd was to come into •conference. To me that seems a childish thingtq say. Small countries which have profited by the despoiling of Germany, have declared emphatically that they, will not hear of revision., -To what tribunal can a selfrespecting- Germany go? . "Certain French delegates did actually approach this question. Professor Sassin said that ' a sort of necessary altruism' was called for in the interests of the nations. Professor de la Pradelle (who was called away to preside over the ItalyAbyssiriia arbitration) said: ' The respect .for obligations supposes in principle a consent freely given: otherwise the pretended agreement of the. parties rests in reality on force and not on voluntary consent.' He said that while modification might not be immediately necessary it would demand inquiry some day. One of the outstanding figures of the conference, the Spanish Professor Gascon y Mann, declared his belief that revisions could be effected without war. Canada said that without real revision there would be no popular support in North America for sanctions.

" I am glad to say that this very important aspect of the problem is to bo the subject of study for the next conference, namely. 'Peaceable Change.' This seenis to me to be the crucial question. Certain adjustments of territory, economic resources or sovereignty must be effected before any system of collective security —which involves the maintenance of the status quo—can be offered for acceptance with any hope whatever. To propose perpetuating present holdings as the foundation of a new international order would be absurd. It would simply be a challenge to the nations which are now discontented.

"Delegates have been asked to submit comments on the proposed course of study. I propose to make this comment that some actual move, voluntary and prior, on the part of certain nations is a necessary condition precedent for the acceptance of any machinery of collective security; and that each national group should consider carefully what its nation could and should do by # way of ' concession , (of territory, sovereignty or economic resources) to ensure the acceptance of the scheme. I realise that this becomes a study in practical politics rather than theoretical law' and that it calls upon us all to denationalise our minds still farther in the interests of international peace. But it must come some time, and without it all the rest is - a sham and can never be acceptable to half the world."