The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1916. A LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1916. A LEAGUE OF NATIONS

The formation of a League of Peaco among tho nations to enforce .international rights after the war has been suggested in England, but the information at present available regarding the origin and aims of the movement is not sufficient to cnablo one to form a definite judgment regarding its merits. A cable message l which we publish in another column states rather vaguely that thero is "much talk of tho expediency" of forming a league on tho lines suggested. It would bo interesting to know tho names of'the promoters of this new peace organisation. Tho lino of argument by which Mr. John Galsworthy endeavours to commend it to the public is not likely to win tho support of those who recognise that there can bo no real poaco until Germany has boon thoroughly beaten. Most people aro justifiably suspicious of talk about peace, and leagues of peace, while the end of tho war is still out of ' sight. The resolutions of the recent Paris Conference may be regarded as preliminary steps towards the establishment of the best possiblo League of Peace—a league of the groat nations working together for tho.purpose-of giving a crushing blow to .German militarism and establishing the peace of the world on strong foundations. Tho aims and methods of this league have been stated in tho plainest terms. Its straight-out plan of action has made a marked impression throughout the world. The Paris Conference did its work well. It laid down a definite programme for concerted action on a vast scale. Its proposals are so far reaching and clearly defined that somo people have been inclined to doubt whether the British Government would be courageous enough to ratify them. The Dominions and the Allies naturally looked to Britain for a lead, and they will welcome the assurance which has now been given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Bonar Law) that the resolutions of tho Conference can be taken as representing the settled'opinion of the British Government. This is an extremely important announcement. It shows unmistakably that Britain means business, and that she is prepared to mako large changes in her economic policy in order to strengthen the ties which bind her to _ her Allies and her Overseas Dominions.

The Conference laid special stress on tho need for promptness in giving effect to its resolutions. Tho reasonableness of this appeal for decisive action with all possible speed has evidently been recognised by the British Government, for Me. Asquith almost immediately conferred with leading British statesmen and the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Hughes) and the Canadian Minister of Trade (Mr. Foster) with rofcrence to the Conferences report. Wc_ do not yet know what was said and done at this meeting, but it may be taken lor granted that Mr. Hughes and Mr Foster made full use of the opportunity for placing their views before Mr Asquith, and it is not likely they went away without some more or less definite intimation as to the intentions of the British Government. They would probably be given information of a more detailed character to supplement Mr. Bonar Law's broad statement that the Imperial Government ,was in sympathy with tho proposals ofthe Conference. Taking all things into consideration, Mr. Hughes is not unduly optimistic when he expresses tho belief that Mr. Asquith aud his Ministerial colleagues are not neglecting the matter, and that the whole question of tariff reform may bo examined free from party feeling. The Allied War Council aud the Economic Conference will probably provo to be tho precursors of inany similar meetings to arrange for concerted action on international problems that may arise from time to time. After peace has been restored the Allies may be relied upon to do their utmost to maintain it. They aro practically pledged to secure the ro-establish-ment of tho principles of law and justice in tho sphere of international relationships. In this way jihey will become a great Peace League. Professor Hoishouse predicts that after the war the relations between the mombors of iho Quadruple Entente— Britain, France,' Russia, and Italy—will bo i placed on a permanent footing, and that, formally or informally, ar-1

rangemcnts will lit made between them for the settlement of internal differences, also for ,the regulation of problems arising out of the desire for territorial expansion, and finally for common defence. This confederation might possibly include within its circle the majority of the smaller States of Europe. With such an organisation in existence, the Central Towers would hesitate for a very long timo before plunging into another struggle. Tho foundations of a real and workable League of Peace are now being laid, and most of us will agree witli PitoFessor Hobhouse when he' states that he can more readily conceive the ultimate goal of the unity of Europe being approached by this road than by that of voluntary agreement between the separate, disunited States into which the Continent was broken up before the system of Alliances began