PEACE AND ARBITRATION

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 399, 18 October 1928, Page 8

PEACE AND ARBITRATION

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS AS A PEACEMAKER.

In the following deputes the League was instrumental in preventing war. and in some cases of stopping war when it had iwgun. Any one dispute, if there had l*»en no League, might have led to war, involving many other countries:— 1. (ireat Britain v. France. In 1922, certain men of British nationality, but Maltese race. living in the French Frotectorates of Tunis and Morocco, had been forced into the Frem-h army as conscripts. The British Foreign Office com plained, and suggested arbitration, but the French refused, but finally agreed put it )>efore the Permanent Court of International Justice, which decided the dispute. 2. Poland v. CYecho-Slovakia. A dispute over the possession of a small mountain district between the two countries dragged on for years. The Permanent (’curt gave a decision, and under the influence of tin* League spirit of peace, the two countries decided to make the disputed territory into an international park anil preserve for animals and birds, with a memorial declaring that it was a symliol of lasting friendship between the two peoples. 3. Poland v. Lithuania. The dispute was over the possession of Vilna. It

was brought before the League, which gave a decision. Neither side liked the decision, and are still dissatisfied, but there has been no fighting. 1. Finland v. Sweden. Dispute over 1 he possession of the Aaland Islands, which were part of Finland, but the population wanted to l»e under Sweden. The League appointed a Commission, which decided that the islands were to remain Finnish, but were to have a large measure of self government. 5. Germany v. Poland. Dispute over the division of Ppper Silesia. It was referred to League, which gave a very wise decision. 6. Jugo-Slavia v. Albania. The former invaded the latter. The Council of the League was summoned, and it decided that unless Jugo-Slavia withdrew its troops at once, there would Ik* no hope of raising a loan by Jugoslavia in London. The troops were withdrawn. 7. Greece v. Italy. Because an Italian general had been assassinated In C.reece, Italy seized the Island of Corfu.

C.reec e appealed to the League, and also to the Conference of Ambassadors (representatives of (Jreat Britain, France, Italy, and Japan). Italy accepted the decision of the Ambassadors, so the League bad no cause to intervene, but suggested a plan of settlement, the chief features of which were adopted. (To be Continued.)