The Waikato Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1933. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19066, 3 October 1933, Page 4

The Waikato Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1933. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

A cabled report from Geneva last week throws light upon an aspect of the League of Nations which has been fortunate in escaping the full measure of criticism which it deserves. It is stated that during a discussion by a committee on the possibility of an international penal code, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, protested against the League exceeding its competence in “ attempting to deal with such a Utopian, fantastic and impracticable idea.”

Amid the rumblings of economic strife, of re-armament, and of threatened warfare, there is something pitifully ingenuous in the effort to arrive at some basis upon which to set up an international penal code. One may be forgiven for asking, if the League cannot persuade the responsible citizens of the world’s countries to concerted action, how then it is hoped to achieve agreement for the purpose of disciplining its criminals.

Sir Thomas Wilford has rightly protested against an attempt to deal with extraneous questions. His criticism is made from the point of view of the experienced legal practitioner, who realises the obvious impossibility of devising a penal code which should have general international acceptance. In this respect the criticism should be sufficient to condemn the League’s action in wasting time and money on such a fantastic proposal.

There is, however, a wider significance in the case under consideration. The League occupies a delicate position in the estimation of many people by reason of its incapacity to deal effectually with the Sino-Manchurian dispute. It is noted that Japan openly flouted the League earlier in the year and eventually resigned, but is still represented by an “ observer ” at Geneva. The critical situation in Europe, the impending disarmament discussions, and the persistent refusal of the United States to enter into membership, have weakened the League’s position considerably.

The mere fact that in present circumstances time should be occupied with the consideration of a Utopian scheme for the consolidation of the penal codes of all countries puts the League in the position of straining at a gnat. Confidence in the future of the League can only be created by assiduous concentration upon immediate and practical problems. If it is to develop into a cumbersome machine for the exploitation of idealistic and altruistic follies, the nations which subscribe to its maintenance may well see fit to discontinue their financial support