The Domimion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1920. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2 October 1920, Page 6

The Domimion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1920. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE NATIONS

A Great event in the history of the world is set down'for the middle of next month—the first meeting of tho Assembly of the League of Nations. Hitherto the whole of ,tho activities undertaken in the name of the League have been carried out by its Uouncil,' which is fairly credited with having done solid pioneer work in many difficult fields. With the permanent Secretariat of tho League, the Council has rendered useful service in supervising jjlebiscites and administering special territories like Saar Basin' and Dantzig under the terms of the Peace Treaty, as well as in organising relief for famine and disease-strickcn areas in Europe, and in various other ways. A recent cablegram mentioned that in appointing a commission which_ will endeavour to settle the Polish-Lithu-anian conflict, the League of Nations. has'for the first time intervened actively in a dispute between two_ nations. Working within the limits set for the time being, the Council of the League has already done not a little to demonstrate the value of 'an authority which is enabled to approach and deal with international questions from a broad and impartial standpoint. It is recognised, however, that if the

League is to be established with full success as an agency for promoting friendly, co-operation between nations • and consolidating world peace it must be supported by ail aroused and active public opinion throughout the world, and that such an awakening of general opinion _ as this implies can only be achieved by a meeting of the Assembly. Although with' the United States as yet standing aloof the development of tho League is seriously hampered, Bome definite grounds exist "for a belief that its standing and effective working scope will be broadened greatly when the Assembly—the Parliament of the League, in which representatives of all member nations meet on equal terms with full freedom to discuss any subject they choose—meets for the first time at Geneva on November 15/ The fact that forty-five countries have signified their intention of being represented, whilo in addition twelve small States have applied for admission, in itself strikes the imagination and illustrates the tremendous possibilities that centre in the League. Proof of the alert interest that is taken in its development is afforded also in the items forwarded for inclusion in the agenda, and not least in the amendments and proposals submitted for discussion by. some of the smaller States. The Danish, Swedish and Norwegian r loverr!iMrilj, for.' instance, have given notice, amongst others, of an amendment which aims at strengthening the position of the Assembly by provding for a fixed annual meeting. ; Touching upon the business to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting Lord Bobeiit Cecil observed recently that the general economic position of the world ought to be subject of a full public discussion. Grievances such as Shantu'.ig and the Persian Agreement, and a host of others, he added, might also ue ventilated. Tho Assembly alone could deal with the admission of additional States to -membership, and in this connection it was possible that Germany might apply for admissira to the League. The whole question of the exact relation of the Council to the Assembly in point of procedure was already in the agenda. The proposals formulated by tho recent Commission of International jurists as to the formation of a permanent Court of International Justice, Lord Bobeiit considered, would probably com- , mand the unanimous approval of the Assembly. Another ' question that may. arise is that of shifting tho scat of the League from Geneva to some other centre. Tho subject of mandates will also come up for discussion, The most important question of 'all to bo conßidered by the Assembly is that of enforcing the decisions arrived at • by the League. Lord Robert Cecil dissents from the viow that the League will be unable to do anything effective until it is backed by an international army. Thoso who uphold this contention, ho pointed out, fail to realise that the League of Nations is not an international supragovcrnment, but a League of Nationd; and an international army ig,

not a practical possibility unless controlled by. an international government. The material sanctions the League requires, he argued, will be' evolved gradually out of the moral sanctions it derives from the widespread detestation of war and desire for an effective means of preserving peace.

For tho present at any rale (he continued) I regard an army as out of the Question. Our main sanction must he tho economio weapon, wlTich has abund-

antly demonstrated its effectiveness during recent years._ On the other hand, it is quite conceivablo to set up an international police forco for special duties, such as the guarding of the Straits and tho occupation 01 euch regions as Armenia. ... An interesting proposal has been made, which I am inclined to favour, for the immediate creation of an international naval force. and similar proposals may' givo rise to interesting discussion when tho Assembly, meets, but it seems fairly clear that at bottom tho strength and effectiveness of the League of Nations must for a long time to como rest on those moral sanctions which at present are its mainstay. Tho development of the League depends above all upon the steady ana sustained growth in men and nations of a rational desire to substitute international co-opera-tion and the peaceful sottlement of disputes for the horrors of war. The Assembly at its forthcoming meeting may fail to agree upon a basis for the establishment of an international army, or even an international navy, and yet_do work of! inestimable value in promoting international concord and amity. A sincere agreoment between nations to abstain from the unjust use of force—and to accept the decision of an international authority where issues of justice and injustice are raised—is supremely important as astep toward limiting war. The possibility, of giving living shape to tho agreement in these terms which is tentatively sketched in the Covenant of the League of Nations deponds much less upon the formation ,of international military forces than upon the loyal acceptance by League members of certain inevitable limitations upon their freedom of action as nations. As Viscount Grey ob.served somo time ago:

The smaller and -weaker nations have rights that must be respected and upheld by the League, The stronger nations must forgo the right to make thoir interests prevail against tho weaker by force: and all the States .must forgo the right in any dispute to resort to force before other methods of settlement by , conference, conciliation, or, if need be, arbitration, have been tried, i

Tho outlook for humanity will be bright or dark as it is or is not found possible to establish a firm agreement between nations 011 these i ™ ,J ircpcnding meeting ImK uc Assembly this possibility will bo put for tile first time to a comprehensive and definite test