A WORLD LEAGUE OF PEACE ?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 139, 29 June 1937, Page 4

A WORLD LEAGUE OF PEACE ?

* A rewarkable document declaring for a world League of Peace as opposed to one of war has appeared in London over signatures representing all shades of British political opinion. This document says : " We believe that the ideals of the League (of Nations) represent the only road toward lasting peace. But we believe that the way to restore the League is not to turn it into an international war oflice, hut rather fcg prove that it is an effective instrument for re=conciliation, for the settlement of international disputes hy pacihc means, and for the removal of the causes of war." The signatories are Lords Arnold, Astor, Lothian, Rennell, Sanderson, Trenchard and Hardinge, Pame Edith Lyttelton, Sir EdwarJ Grigg, Capon Charles E. Raven, Sir Francis 0. Lindley, Sir John Eisher Williams, Mr George Lansbury, Mr Henry Carter, and the Rev. Daniel Soper. These highly informed and influential individuals hold that whatever may have seemed possible when there was a prospect of the League of Nations becoming world-wide, it is now necessary to revise its seope seeing that only three out of the seven great powers can be counted upon as its supporters : " To commit ourselves not only to economic but to automatic military action, instead of equipping the League to do justice as between nations, is simply to increase and not diminish the risk of explosion. . , . By far the most urgent dut^ of the League to-day is to fonnulato the practical proposals which it thinks would remgve the main cause' of international conflict." These words represent views now widely held in Britain. The 'case preseuted i.s one that has to be faeed by all nations. It is obe which must sooner or later go evolve that a uuanhuous anairfr c&n be given by the natiyas. . - —