GENEVA PROTOCOL.

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 355, 18 February 1925, Page 5

GENEVA PROTOCOL.

The Great War was over. A band of statesmen were grouped around the Council Board in Paris. Better than any others did they know the dread havoc the war had made, and well did they appreciate the dangers of another such catastrophe. Fear, like a giant pall was hanging over Europe, and very real was the dread of what would happen if all the resources of science and all the skill of artisans were to be used in future for destructive and not constructive purposes. Money, brains, labour, skill all to be applied to the increase of armaments. Truly it would become a burden that would crush out the last relic of civilisation and drive the nations back to barbarism. From that Council emerged the Versailles Treaty and the Covenant of the League of Nations. The Treaty with its harsh provisions to provoke further anger and hatred. The Covenant an honest attempt to lay the foundations for a world-wide Peace. Disarmament is to be the first step say they. But f r still holds us in its grip, Nations will not disarm unless they have some guarantee of safety. The original Covenant left a loophole open for v*ar. In the first place every dispute ias not to be referred to the League, uut only those disputes which both parties agree to submit. Then when the Council fails to reach a unanimous conclusion about a dispute, the two parties after waiting three months are left free to fight. Again the average State feels that even after a decision has been given by the League there is not sufficient guarantee that it will be enforced. The Protocol is an attempt to atop up these loopholes. It provides that all disputes must go to one of the League Courts; makes provision for a decisive verdict to be given in every case, and it endeavours to provide effective means to enforce its decrees upon recalcitrant States. But the Protocol has gone ahead of Public Sentiment. Its important resolutions were proposed by the British Prime Minister and seconded by the French Minister, but have not been endorsed by the British people. With Germany, Russia, and IT.S.A. outside tn? League there is no sufflcient guarantee that every dispute will be brought before the League,

moreover, some members of the League are not willing to submit all their purely domestic questions to arbitration. Then Nations objected to the League having the use of their forces to enforce its decrees. It is almost certain now, that the Protocol will not be accepted, but its educative work has been great. There is a growing sentiment all over the w r orld that Peace is a possibility. There is a growing faith in the vision of World Disarmament. There is far to trave\ but that the nations have started along the road with their faces turned to Disarmament and Peace is much to be thankful for. Before the goa l can be reached all nations must join as members; all members must submit to arbitration, and some means must be provided of enforcing the decrees of the League.