LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 223, 15 June 1921, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

SERMON RY DR. GIBB Discussing this theme in a sermon an St. John's Inst Sunday evening, Dr. Gibb expressed the hope that the movement for a union initiated by tho Wellington Presbytery would find widespread support. Many eminent men lutd told thorn that without the support of the Churches and men of good will, tho League would come to nothing. It was already probable that tho League, as conceived by tho Versailles Council, would not survive. Tho United States Was opposed to it, and severalr of its objections seemed valid. If a better scheme could bo evolved by all means lot. tho better scheme prevail. The duty of tho Church and all peace-loving citizens was limited to the demand that some league, council, or alliance should he -formed, by means of which their invincible desire of peace on earth should ifind adequate, expression. “There were three things above oil essential to the peace of the world. ■First, that European statesmen, or at least the representatives of Great Britain, should abandon their reliance on the so-called balance of power. It had been made plain by many writers and publicists, by Earl Ixjreburn among the number, that tho theory and practice of the balance of power is largely, if not wholly, responsible for most of the wars that have devastated Europe for a conturv past. It is only since the close ■of the*late war that light has been shed cn the fact that-Britain had practically contracted with Franco, that in certain eventualities she would go to war with Germany. Parliament did- not Enow this. Not even all the members of the British Cabinet knew this during the fateful weeks of July and August 191*. The balance of power does not make for peace, but the contrary. It provokes -suspicion; it necessitates armaments, inevitably it leads to war. "Second, that our rulers shall enter into no treaty with other nations without first consulting Parliament and the people. If the British Parliament had known the exact measure of Sir Edward Grey’s commitments to France, it is possible, even probable, that, the war would have been averted. .Both Franco and Huseta declared that if Lord/Grey would say Britain would come in the Germans ould' not fight. most earnestly strove to avert tho wa , but knowing that Britain was bound by honour, if not by explicit tie.dvs he ought to have said so distinctly. What right hove our statesmen to commit us . to taking part in a European conflict without divulging the fact? Does anybody to-day boliove that we taught solely because Belgium had been invad fought because our rulers had ' cur honour. Britain was not ready for the part, she had to play m t , camo, but she was ready for tho pan she had contracted toplay. Her ie was ready. Her expeditionary force was nt the fighting front within two week t.f the declaration of war. "Secret treaties and understanding, must end. Are we tocontinue to be driven like sheep to the .daughter to be thrust into a conflict m which the : young mon of Europe shall 'like dragons of the prime tear each other in the slime,’ and innocent women and babes ilio liko vermin of disease and famine; or be swept into swift death by bombs ' from tho sky, or by the latest invented ■poison, three drops of which falling on a man will kill him on tho spot-are wo to bs driven thus, without our knowledge and consent? Unless on© utterly ! misreads tha signa of the times, the f democracy of Labour and the bourgeoisie, too (as Labour loves to term .us), will absolutely refuse to bo so driven. As Dr. Kelman has said, 'The whole system of international diplomacy aud ideals which has obtained throughout the past among European nations must reformed.’' It must. “Third, that there shall be a general disarmament. Th© demand for tnis ought to bo continuous and insistent. Militarism and navalism, too, sooner or later mean war., Tho dominant superiority of tho British Navy is a challenge to all the nations, and especially to the United States, to rival Britain, and, if possible, outpace her. It helps both ing for Navy Leagues to cry. u sc how just and fair and honourable Britain is! Her Navy ia maintained not for conquest, but for tho peace and comity of the world.’ It is a hard blow to one’s British pride to learn that such is • not tho view other nations of us. Thov aro foolish enough—but are they , B 0 very foolish ?-to think that.wo have an eyo to tho main chance; that while wo are continually protesting that we ■ do not want more territory, the boundaries of the Empire are being constant- ' ly widened; that, in fact, there is a great deal of hypocrisy, conscious or unconscious,' in our pose. In any case there will never bo a world at peace till it is a world disarmed. “It ought to be realised that, however urgent these reforms are, and however ' insistently we demand them, wo shall achieve nothing unless the League of Nations, or some similar international institution, emerges. Without the League armaments will eguin be piled up—Britain will arm. Some of us would Bay 'No,* even if other countries arm we shall not. Wo shall do what is right, and take our chance with God. . But you will not persuade tiro majority to think so. Before the world there are only two alternatives—the League of Nations or war. Writers and publicists of the highest eminence in Church and State liave said so. Without the League war will oomo again. There is no alternative between universal disarmament to the extent to which the League proposes and ultimate war. The status- quo is not a living alternative. Without the League the situation of the world is absolutely desperate. "Did they realise these things? He feared they did not. Tho only thing many of our leaders seemed- to have iearned! from tho last war was that wo —God help us!—must get ready for another. There was little sign that tho statesmen of tho outer Empire realised that their supremo was to study t ]«. things that make for pence. There was one noble exception, Mr. Smuts, tha 'clear-brained, big-hearted Prime Minister of South Africa. “But if the Church, if the average citizen were determined that a League of Nations should como into power, our leaders would not be ablo Ito resist their pressure. It was for tho Church to take the lead in this movement.. If tho Church and Labour would join hands in thia matter, tho situation would bo full of promise. He pleaded for , tho union of all right-mindtod men into a league against the abomination and horror of war. "Without the League ho had said war was inevitable. Did they realise sshat FTio next war would be? Lord Loreburn says if it comes; 'Life itsolf will be scarcely tolern-blo to mankind. Kidman says: ‘lf wars are to go on increasing in feroch-ty, tho prospect is more dismal than Dante’s Inferno. I/or such a life it' is not worth while to breed children, in any land. If tho destruction of each generation in its vonth is to be tho normal and continually repeated prospect of our homes, then ft were bettor that tho human tiico should at once parish from tho earth.’ And 1 Viscount Croy had said: 'Tho world must now learn or perish.' Tho next world war will bo beyond all tho power of worcß to describe its horror." Tho speaker went on to indicate the desirability of tho League of Nations on its pool tie and constructive side. Jt was closely allied with Christianity. It aimed at tho eßto,blishment of lovo and good understanding among the peoples of tho earth. Couldl any man who knows tho” mind of Christ for an instant doubt that th© League was in accordance with shall mind, and an instrument that He could uso for tho furtherance of His rTe/H kingdom? The TOTy idea, of a

Ixsaguo of Nations, said Dr. John Hutton, "comes extraordinarily near to the idea which inspired and controlled our Lord's ministry to the world of H»s day. Indeed, there is a day coming, f verily believe, when the title 'League of Nations' shall bo erased, and by the unanimous vote of tho human race, there shall be inscribed over tho erasure tho deeper and more logical, as it is the more beautiful, designation—no longer ‘Tho League of Nations’ but tho Kingdom of God.”