THREATS TO PEACE

Southland Times, Issue 19332, 26 August 1924, Page 2

THREATS TO PEACE

THE CONQUERED NATIONS. POSSIBILITIES OF REVIVAL. (Sun Special). LONDON, August 6. Professor George Gilbert Murray, M.A., chairman of the executive of the League of Nations, addressing the Liberal Summer School at Oxford, said there were two great threats to the world’s peace. First, there was the existence of suppressed nationalities, whose danger could be remedied by free trade: and, secondly, the resurgence of conquered nations. Austria and Bulgaria, possibly, were permanently crushed, but, Germany and Russia must revive, and again become strong. Britain must, therefore, make up her mind what she will do. It was essential, said the speaker, that Britain should be ready to protect Germany against France, or France against Germany. Unless Britain were ready, it was easy to see what would happen—the same as when Turkey regained all she desired, because Britain was reluctant to fight. A policy of drift was dangerous, because the world would get the idea that Britain would not enter a war. Then trouble would come, and Britain would be unwillingly dragged in. Britain’s policy should be laid down in black and white, added Professor Murray, and thus the world would know that there were some things that Britain would not tolerate. First of all, it. should be known that Britain was prepared to fight in defence of the covenant of the League of Nations.