THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 2

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

CHIEF HOPE OF WORLD ITS GOOD WORK FOR HUMANITY. INTEREST TO THE INDIVIDUAL. (By Maire M. Arthur). Realising that the League of Nations has been in existence for 15 years and that the good it has already done is incalculable, it almost causes one to despair of humanity when reading of the regrettable incident that took place at Christchurch recently. To a thinking person it is incomprehensible that there should exist such ignorance and such apathy in relation to the work of the League. Here we have at hand the only existing machinery for the prevention of war and for the general welfare of humanity. To British people it is an entirely loyal organisation, the King recommending it to his subjects in these words: “Nothing is more essential than a strong and enduring League of Nations. 1 commend the cause to all the citizens of my Empire.” It would be as well to consider a few facts concerning the League. There are 59 countries in the League. Germany and Japan are included in these figures, for although they have both given notice of withdrawal this does not come into force until 1935. Russia and Afghanistan, who have recently joined, are also included. The purpose of the League is to promote international co-operation and international peace. Here are the claims the League makes upon an intelligent and humane people:— ACHIEVEMENT OF LEAGUE. (1) Keeping the peace between nations and protecting the world from war. (2) Caring for the weak, uncivilised or partly-developed peoples. (3) Promoting trade and industry, and by increasing the productivity of the World bringing down the cost of living. (4) Carrying out the decisions of the International Labour Conference. (5) Protecting the world against epidemics of disease. (6) Suppressing the traffic in arms and in dangerous drugs and putting down all forms of slavery. j (7) Limiting and in time abolishing armaments, thus removing an important cause of war and materially reducing taxation. (8) To set free for use in constructive pursuits the brains and energies now engaged in devising war machines. None of these claims is inconsistent with the aims'and ideas of a Christian nation. The League has already to <ts credit many successful endings to disputes and conflicts. Here are some: A dispute between Sweden and Finland in 1920 settled. Hostilities between Poland and Lithuania in 1920 ended. A war between Yugoslavia and Albania stopped in 1921. Intervention in the crisis between Greece and Italy in 1923, of which the British Prime Minister said: “Had the League not existed and acted as it did, a resort to arms would almost inevitably have taken place.” The settlement of the Mosul boundary dispute between Great Britain and Turkey in 1925. When hostilities suddenly broke out between Greece and Bulgaria in October, 1925, complete quiet was restored within five days. Two stubborn disputes involving frontier fighting in South America between Colombia and Peru and between Bolivia and Paraguay were settled. In the great field of human welfare the League’s work is beyond praise. Its health organisation is responsible for the setting up at Singapore of a wireless station which broadcasts urgent information for health officials in ports in the area from which epidemics usually spread. Health administrations have been built up in Greece, Persia, Poland, China and a number of Latin American States. TRANSPORT REORGANISED. The communications and transit organisation has helped governments to reorganise transport systems, and given advice on public works plans. It has cleared away great obstacles to international intercourse by the simplification of passports, calendar reform, transport statistics and air transport co-operation. The economic organisation of the League has busied itself in research work on such problems as gold, the economic depression and its causes, the unification of customs nomenclature, commercial arbitration and double taxation. In European reconstruction the League has endeavoured to find a practical solution for the difficulties—mainly agricultural—of the east European countries. It has studied with the help -f the International Labour organisation the possibility of relieving unemployment through largescale public works of international benefit. In its humane activities the League includes the suppression of the traffic in women, slave traffic, drug traffic, child welfare, settlement of refugees, help for Jews expelled from Germany, relief work in famine and plague-stricken areas. For the general public to imagine that the affairs of the League do not concern them is utter fallacy. The people of New Zealand should realise that collective defence is the only sure way to make the country safe and protect its trade routes. If they supported the League and its policy of collective defence it would enable national armaments to be reduced by international agreements and would give an increase of security all round. Unless those of us who have experienced the horrors of one war are going to do our best to prevent other wars there is little hope for our common humanity. If professing Christianity is sincere and really seeks to build the kingdom of God on earth, then obviously it should be its duty to assist in the League’s policy of “all for each and each for all.” The League is the hope of the world.