DIVISION OF LEAGUE WORK?

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 6

DIVISION OF LEAGUE WORK?

Which aspect of the work of the League of Nations was responsible for the League becoming almost impotent as a means of settling differences betv/een member States ? The answer to that question will undoubtedly be, the political aspect. That view has been accepted by many of the League members, and the result is a conference now being held at The Hague among ten nations which are exploring the possibilities and merits of ultimately separating the technical from the political activities of the League. Their task is delicate and perhaps dangerous, but on the other hand it may be productive of much good and therefore is thoroughly justified. To separate the technical from the political activities is to admit that the original ideal of the League is either impracticable or at least not yet a possibility. It was hoped that the nations had so thoroughly learned their lesson that they would have been ready and able to support a sufficient measure of political unity to make wars impossible, and at the same time co-ordinate their economic and technical systems in such a way as to make life worth living for all. So far the League has failed to achieve its objective, and as a political force it is for the time being merely a spectator in the chaos of power politics in Europe. If then, it is impotent in the political sphere, is there any reason why as a technical clearing house it should not make the utmost possible use of its undoubted opportunities ?

In the technical and humanitarian fields the League has performed, and is still performing, tremendously important work, of far greater range and usefulness than the average man realises. The tendency for years has been to shrink from the thorny political tasks and to concentrate upon improving the lot of mankind in activities in which there cannot possibly be racial differences of opinion. On the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread, an effort is being made to discover whether the division of efforts is practicable and desirable. If ail natkns could be persuaded to co-operate wholehea*” * r lly in the technical activities a closer unity of interest might be evolved, out of which political tolerance might develop.