League Of Nations

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 11

League Of Nations

■Sir, —Some people are of the opinion that the League of Nations will be done away with. That is not so, for I am sure that after this war it will be reconstituted'in such a way that it will become the chief means of preventing further wars. In order to do this it will be necessary for all nations who desire peace to band themselves together and be prepared, if need be, to fight for peace. That is the main weakness in the present League; it will not fight to attain its objects. Of course, before taking this last step all possible efforts will be made by the new League to settle matters by arbitration.

There is one thing that is very certain, namely, that as long as human nature remains what it is. and that in my opinion will be for all time, it will be absolutely necessary that armies, navies and armaments be kept up./But, of course, if a sufficiently strong combination of nations could be induced to join the League this state of preparedness would not press unduly on any one of them, as their resources would be pooled if the necessity arose. A very severe economic penalty would require to be imposed upon any nation which withdraws from the League after joining. Immediately after this Ivar a world economic conference will be held at which no nation will be barred from participation, for it is essential if peace is to be preserved that the just requirements of all should as far as possible be satisfied. Reciprocal trade will be arranged by which the resources of the various countries will lie made available to each other on fair terms. There ean be no doubt at all that those who are now responsible for the government of the world already have some such plan as this envisaged, and ready to put into practice when the right time comes. By this means the depression which usually follows a war may to a great extent be avoided. Finally, I am bound to say that after having made a careful study of the nature of animals all my life, I cannot hold out much hope for permanent ' peace. Man is, so far at all events, not sufficiently removed from the animals for such a hope to be realized — I am, etc., G. F. MOORE. Bushy Park, April 25.