PEACE OF WORLD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 8

PEACE OF WORLD

Collective Seeurity the Best Method So Far LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES "The League of Nations Union and Collective Seeurity," was the subject of an address delivered by Mr W. A. G. Penlington, M.A., at the Wesley Hall, Hastings, to an appreciative and interested audience representing the Methodist Church. Though collective seeurity had not been altogether -successfuJ, said Mr Penlington, yet it was, so far, the best possible method to maintain the peace of the world. The League had been successful m preventing many minor Wars during the past 18 or 20 years. "It might be found necessary to form a new collective seeurity paet in the very near future," said the speaker. The whole niatter of world peace was one of public opinion, and only when the general public was educated eould the ideals of peace be reaiised. As one man had expressed it, "It was not because the people 's hearts were hard, but because their heads were thick." No amount of coercion by* govurnment, nor by State organisation, but by the goodwill of the people, could wars be done away with. These things came gradually as the people reaiised that the question was not how to wm a war but how to avoid one. This Could only be done by each nation putting on one side their exaggerated idea of nationali mu and Imkmg up with the League and abiding by the findings of its Intcrnational Court of Justice, and by an educated democracy wiiling to study and understand. each nation 's point of view, its laws, customs, art, and history. Mr Penlington gave an interesting and ixxstructive aceount of the many activities of the League. What aft'eeted one nation affeeted all, so that the League had to be nxaintained to act as a common nxeeting place where subjects could bo discussed and national decisions arrived at. At the conclusion; of the address an interesting half-hour was spent, when questions were answered by Mr Pen--lington in regard ta America entering the League; the necessity for a world«vide national language; the restoration to Germany of her colonies; Home Rule in India; and Russia as a likely colonizer. Mr A. H. Tunnicliffe voiced the thanks of the xneeting to the speaker, and the Rev. It. B. Gosnell, who occupied the ehair, supported the resolution.