TREATIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 191, 26 July 1940, Page 2

TREATIES

ONE DAILY SINCE GREAT WAR "At the beginning of last November the annual report on the work of the League of Nations, 1935-39, Avas rather grimly published. In some respects it may become one of the curiosities of history. In one respect it threw an astonishing light on the subject of international laws. On page 162 Avas given the record of the 'Registration and Pub lieation of Treaties and International Engagements' effected ander Article 38 of the Covenant. The opportunity was taken, in Avhat appears noAV to be a rather i.ronic spirit to giA T e the grand total up to date of all such registrations. Between May 19, 1939, no fewer than 4riGß 'treaties and international engagements' Avere submitted for registration, 211 of them during the period from May 19, 1938, to May 19, 1939. It follows that throughout the post-Avar period an aA'erage of nearly one treaty a day Avas concluded. And for what purpose? Not for the first time in history it is proved that treaties betAveened arm ed sovereign States, not subject to any higher common sanction, are of as much moral A'alue as the do mipacts betAveen rival gangsters in Chicago.'—-Dr George GlasgoAV in the Contemporary RevieAA^.