STILL USEFUL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20470, 23 November 1934, Page 7

STILL USEFUL.

League of Nations Doing Valuable Work. RISKS MUST BE FACED. Valuable work which is being done by the League of Nations, anrl which passes almost unknown to the general public, was referred to by Mr J. B. V. Wilson, a member of the League Secretariat, in an interview this morning. Mr Wilson is in New Zealand on leave from his duties in Geneva, and will remain here for two months and a haK. “I. was glad to see in this morning’s paper that Dr J. B. Condliffe had described the economic work of the League, of which far too little is known to the general public,” said Mr Wilson. “In spite of the great difficulties which the League has faced in the troubled conditions during the last years, its useful technical work in economic and financial spheres, and the suppression of the drug traffic and other technical matters, continues. It is appreciated by the governments and specialists. In the matter of the drug traffic, international control has become far stricter through the efforts of the League. Important Meetings. • “ As an instance of the occupations of. the League there are being held in Geneva this week three important meetings. There is a special meeting of what is known as the “ Steering Committee ” of the Disarmament Conference; a special session of the Council of the League to deal with the question of the Saar, which will come up for final decision in January; and a special session of the Assembly to deal with the question of the war between Bo’iivia and Paraguay. “ The fact that a war, in which already over 100,000 lives have been lost, should still rage in spite of the efforts of the League and the U.S.A.. is regarded by some as the final condemnation of the League. This, however, is to take too simple a view. After all, international action has’ got to be continued by the League's machinery. It offers facilities not open to individual States acting on their For instance, whenever it could be done by mediation or other peaceful means which have proved effective, other disputes submitted to the League have been settled. League commissions have investigated all the relevant facts, and this novel procedure in international affairs has been adopted—the principal Powers have agreed to prohibit the export of armaments to the belligerents. Stronger Measures. 1 bus it will be seen that the League’s aption is continuing, even though it may not be immediatelv effective. W hat is not always realised is that stronger measures may only be applied by the League if the countries who have to face the risk of such action will agree to take these risks. Similarly, with regard to the Manchurian affair, it must be admitted that action of the Powers with the League, or by indirect methods, was not sufficient to prevent a situation which is admitted to be inconsistent with the Covenant. Here again, however, it must not be condemned. “ Through the League the Powers have agreed on a common policy, that they will refuse to recognise Manchukuo* and it is too soon to conclude that this action will prove ineffective. ” The Disarmament Conference has also been a disappointment to those who expected rapid and dramatic results without appreciating the difficulties of the problem. But the Disarmament Conference is by no means dead, though certain political difficulties are being experienced. " Tension between Germany and France still stands in the way. A certain measure of agreement has been reached on Budget limitation, traffic in armaments, the size of Continental armies and machinery for the mutual control of arms. Vitality of its Own. “\\ hen. following Japan, Germany gave notice of her intention of leaving the League, many despaired. The situation was grave, but the League has vitality of its own. springing from immediate necessities of contemporary international life, and little b}' little confidence began to return. “ The last assembly saw the admission of Russia, who has given every sign of wishing to co-operate fully in the work of the League. Ecuador and Afghanistan were also admitted earlier in the 3-ear. The United States has joined the International Labour organisation. “ The League is now an institution well established, and the simple but imposing buildings which now extend along the frontage of the Lake of Geneva will be occupied next year and will not be used, as some c> r nics suggested, as a militar>- barracks. What is still uncertain is whether the League, in addition to being useful, will also be able to completely fulfill the main purposes for which it was founded. “ If people realise that these purposes require effort, -and at times risk, and do not expect, as many seem to, that the League will give something for nothing, this end will also be in sight.”