THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 19

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

MR MACDONALD AND THE LEAGUE. LONDON, July 21. The Dailv Express says that a sensation has been created among the supporters of the League of Nations owing to Mr MacDonald writing to Sir Eric Drummond (the Secretary-General) saying that it would be impossible to lend military aid to any signatory State in case of aggression. Britain, he added, could not afford to act as the world's policeman, even if the whistle were blown at Geneva. BRITAIN AND THE LEAGUE. PARIS, July 21. The newspaper Ere Nouvelle, the organ of the Left Parties, defending Britain’s refusal to join tlve League Pact of Mutual Assistance, says: “Frenchmen forget that nowadays Britain depends on her dominions as much as and perhaps more than, the dominions depend upon Britain. It is just as important to Britain to assure the peace of the Pacific as the peace

of Europe. The possibility of a conflict between the United States and Japan looms on the horizon, arid it would be impossible for Australia, and therefore for Britain, to remain indifferent to it. The League’s draft pact in nowise assures peace in the Pacific, because the United States refuses to adhere to it. If Britain accepted the pact, she would be giving Japan a purely one-sided assurance. LONDON, July 21. In the House of Commons Mr MacDonald, questioned about his letter regarding the Treaty of Mutual Assistance, said the text of the letter would Da published shortly in a White Paper. If discussion were required an opportunity could bo seized before the end of tha sec-sion. Sir Samuel Hoare asked whether com* munications to and from the dominions on the subject would be included in tha White Paper. Mr MacDonald said he had not considered this, and he questioned whether it was desirable, but he was willing to do what the House required. Mr MacDonald's letter to the League emphasised the delay inseparable from deciding which State was the aggressor, and expressed doubt whether four days would suffice. Therefore a further delay would be involved in bringing into operation tho League’s measures, whether military or economic. Even then the sanction of all the nations to these measures was so precarious that none would feel justified in reducing armaments. In this connection Britain feared that the treaty would involve an increase "and not a decrease of armaments. Mr MacDonald quoted Canada’s comment that while for the purposes of action she zonally belonged to the North American area, she still shared her Empire} responsibility. was of opinion that it would be most difficult to overcome such a conflicting position. Mr MacDonald added that in view of its ma,ny defects Britain did not favour the adoption of the Treaty drafted last year, July 24. Viscount Grey of Talloden initiated art important debate in the House of Lords regarding the Government’s rejection of the Pact of Mutual Assistance. He :n-----sists that Britain ought to give more reality to the League of Nations and make it clear that she was prepared to use r.er strength to uphold the League Covenant in future disputes. We were making no progress towards a sense of security, nut were making an advance towards competition in armaments. It was impossible to hold out hopes of preventing the growth of armaments unless a scheme were evolved which the Dominions could support. Ho would like the dominions to be consulted whether in future disputes Britain should be prepared to use all her strength, not on the merits of any dispute, but on behalf of the Covenant of the League. Lord Grey added that a policy of isolation for Britain would be a policy of certain catastrophe. Lord Parmoor replied that the Government was fully alive to the necessity for disarmament, which was the essence of the Government’s policy, but all the dominions except the Irish 1‘ ree State were opposed to the Treaty of Mutual Assistance. It was not possible for the Government to pledge itself to any measure to which the dominions were opposed. It was impossible to carry out any policy cf disarmament unless it had the united loyalty of all the dominions. Without a *pre-arrangecl military plan a scheme of mutual assistance would be a farce and a delusion. Viscount Cecil said that if force were not contemplated against a nation which was determined to break the peace ot the world, there could be no faith in the League. He asked what Britain was going to do at Geneva. The Earl of Balfour said that Mr MacDonald’s letter proposing an assembly ol all nations in connection with disarmament was an illusory proposition which would end in a wrangle, but he was also doubtful of the value of the Treaty of Mutual Assurance. Lord Grey’s motion was withdrawn, THE LEAGUE CONFERENCE. OTTAWA, July 21. Senator Raoul Dandurand has been appointed Canada’s senior representative at the forthcoming Conference of the League of Nations. Another Cabinet member may accompany him.