PERMANENT PEACE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17067, 21 August 1917, Page 6

PERMANENT PEACE.

LORD BRYCE'S' GREAT LEAGUE

PROJECT.

IMPORTANT SCHEME OUTLINED

World-wide interest centres >on the scheme formulated by Lord Bryce with the object of permanently assuring peace among the nations.. Although the scheme to btt-ing lnito being an international League to Enforce Peace was formulated by the veteran diplomatist and historian two years ago, the details of it were only made public just before- the last English mail left.

In a prefatory note to the outline of tne League scheme, Lord Bryce says:—

"The frightful catastophe of the present war, involving more than half the human race, and bringing grave evils on neutral nations also, has driven thoughtful men to reflect on the possibility of finding means by which the risk of future wars may be dispelled or at least largely reduced. The only effective and permanent remedy would be to convince the several peoples of the world that they have far more to lose than to gain from strife, and to replace by a sentiment of mutual international goodwill the violent national antagonisms that, now exist. But this, we may well fear, would be a slow process.

"Meanwhile .that which may be done, and which it seems possible to do at once, is .to provide machinery by and through which the volume of international public opinion which favors peace may be enabled to express itself, and bring its power to bear upon any nation in which there 'may from time to time exist a spirit of aggression or a readiness to embark on war in pursuit of selfish interests or at the bidding of national pride.

"The. nature of the machinery is indicated by some facts which this war has brought out in strong relief. These are:

"First, the increased risks to peace that arise from the increased speed with which communications between Governments meditating war are exchanged, and with which momentous decisions are taken .

"Second, the difficulty neutral nations find in ascertaining the merits of a dispute which has led to war, and thus in judging between the disputants and throwing to one or other side the weight of , their opinion.

"Third, the gigantic scale on which war is now waged, compelling Governments, in order to secure themselves from sudden onslaughts, to maintain naval and military armaments incomparably larger than before, and thereby laying intolerable burdens on the. people.

CONDITIONS TO BE MET,

"The machinery needed to meet these conditions would seem to be:

"First, the prescribing of a certain period of time : within which steps could be taken to settle a dispute amicably before a resort to. arms.

"Second, means for ascertaining the facts and clearing >up the is&ues in dispute, so as to facilitate the forming of an impartial opinion upon the merits. '

"Third, arrangements between pacifically-minded nations for mutual protection against sudden attack by a State which refuses to allow time for investigating and trying to secure an amicable adjustment of its claims.

"It may reasonably be hoped that if some scheme calculated to attain these objects were adopted by a considerable number of States, the opinion of neutral nations being better instructed and having a vehicle for its expression, would become a more effective force than it has been hitherto in the way of deterring aggressive Governments from war.

Everyone sems to feel the approach of a x /supremely important moment If th.c opportunity which the close of the present conflict will offer for the provision of means to avert future wars be lost, another such opportunity may never reappear. If things arei not then made better, the prospect for mankind will be darker than ever and the condition of the world will have grown worse, because the recurrence of like calamities -will have been recognised as a thing to be expected and their causes as beyond all human cure." The project outlined by Lord Bryce's committee is as follows: "The draft treaty is not a project for International government. It is the project of a treaty between sovereign States and is intended to suggest, not a Temote ideal, but something that may be immediately practicable when, the war is over. It proposes not to make war impossible, but to make it less probable by the creation of a new International machinery whereby what it is hoped will be the general will to peace may find effective expression. The treaty would constitute, if adopted, not a league of some States against others, but: a union of as many as possible in the common interest of all. . i ■ ' • ' ■ ■ THE MAIN AGREEMENTS. "The States, included in the union