KEEPING THE PEACE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 6

KEEPING THE PEACE.

The friction between the Russians and Chinese on the Mongolian railway question, which has threatened to culminate in actual hostilities, has, in the minds of many, been regarded as a test of the efficacy of the Kellogg Pact, to which, both countries subscribe. They solemnly pledged themselves by that instrument never to resort to war as an international policy, and to settle by peaceful means all disputes that may arise. There is ground for hoping that hostilities will not break out; but the bare possibility, which would be sardonic in the extreme if it became an actuality, should lead to further study of the question how the peace of the world is effectually to he kept. We are exhorted not only to seek peace hut to “ensure it." This can only mean, in world affairs, that pious aspirations must be supplemented by practical machinery. It is not provided by the Kellogg treaty. The question has often been asked what would happen if any nation signing that treaty were to go to war. The answer lias always been that nobody knows, in such an emergency the treaty bound no nation (o do anything. All was left to good faith. To make the peace of the world secure it lias got to be made somebody's business—the business of some nation or group of nations —to keep the peace. Under the Kellogg treaty about all that can be done is lo remind a nation which seems inclined lo go lo war that it has promised not to go to war until every means of peaceful settlement has been exhausted. T.iis kind of “reminder" has very properly been sent to both China and Russia. It may he sufficient, and effective; all must hope that it will be. But at tile same time no thoughtful man can fail to perceive that if the United States were in the League of Nations, and if Russia were also in it, action would not have to be limited to polite remonstrances. The Covenant of the League of Nations stipulates the plain and practical steps to he taken to prevent a threatening war. it not only seeks peace but endeavours to ensure it by active measures. Thus we come back again to the conclusion that none of Hie special agreements or regional understandings or general but vague promises can' take, the pmee of the precise and effective organisation to prevent war which is provided by the League of Nations. The more it is ignored, the more indispensable it appears. If it did not exist to-day, it would'have to be invented.