The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1926. GERMANY IN THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1926, Page 6

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1926. GERMANY IN THE LEAGUE.

Germany’s entry into the League, with a permanent seat on the Council, closes one chapter and opens another in. the records of international relationships. This entry, owing to the presence of obstacles the raising of which indicated anything but that broad spirit of aimty and conciliation that would naturally be expected to he in evidence in connection with a world-wide institution devised to promote peace, was deprived of the eclat due to such au important event. None the less must there be created a feeling of satisfaction that, belated as it was, Germany’s co-operation in the work of the League ought to be welcomed cordially by all the nations. There may be some who 'entertain the view that the delay has its advantages as well as its drawbacks, more particularly as emphasising the supreme importance of making sacrifices in the cause of unity. Having accepted the terms set forth in the Locarno Pact there wah no logical course for Germany to take but to join the League when invited so to do, and she now occupies a seat on the world council of peace where all the members are esteemed equal, none having greater rights than others, while all are assumed to be animated by the desire to fulfil the aims and objects of the League in a broad and judicial spirit, Had it not suited Germany’s purpose to join the League she would have refrained. There was no compulsion, but the faet remains that the League is no place for bargaining, and that in the matter of modifying the terms of the Versailles Treaty she is in no better and no worse a position than before. The object of the Treaty and'the League is practically the same—to secure peace— so- that it is not a question of the treaty terms, being humiliating, but whether solemn obligations are to be observed in a strictly conscientious way. All sections of the German people will do well to realise that future welfare of the country will be largely influenced by the attitude adopted by their* representative on the League Council, and the moderation of Press comments. It will be noticed that the Boersen Zeitung, referring to the admission to the League, said: “It must not be forgotten that we join the circle as an infamous partner who still has policemen in the house. Peaceful collaboration is impossible until the humiliation of the Versailles Treaty has been removed.” This shows remarkable ignorance of the salient points of the whole position. Far more to the point is the statement by the Taegliche Rundschau to the effect that it is glad Germany has reached her goal, which is only a stage in the struggle for the restoration of Germany, healing the damage of war, and making for the pacification of Europe. Along those lines Germany may safely work and with much advantage. Under the Dawes scheme the pressure as to the payment of reparations was very appreciably eased, but Germany ■will have a difficult row to hoe for many years to come, and will require to concentrate upon the arts of -peace in order to clear off her liabilities and make satisfactory progress in the direction cf material prosperity. Her representation on the League should, therefore, be of much service in. promoting peace. She will not, as the Lokal Anzeiger mischievously remarks, “see herself surrounded at Geneva, by the .envy and ill-will of open enemies,” but rather by thpse who will be glad to see her make good and eventually emerge an esteemed and reliable pillar upholding the peace of the world. In that way she can demonstrate her greatness. There is no reason why Germany should not exercise all the vigilance of which she is capable, while acting on the League Council, that being a .duty. which is common to all the members. . The main -point, is there must be an absence of all thought of sway-': ing the other members the

Council in favour of Germany’s interests. The League has to hold the scales of justice evenly and impartially, otherwise it will collapse. The nations must hope for the best, and turn a deaf ear to any and every whisper of intrigue, for the peace of the world is at stake.