The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 1925. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 1925. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Thf. Wellington Town Hall was well filled last week, when a -lecture was delivered by Mr J. V. Wilson, under the auspices of the Wellington Branch of the League of Nations Union, on the constitution, aims, objects, and Work of the League of Nations. Sir Francis Bell, president of the branch, presided. Dr. Gibb w?.s filst* on the

platform. 'The Assembly of the League of Nations, said Air Wilson, was composed of delegates from fifty five sovereign States bound by the Covenant of the League to act for certain definite objects, ellielly to promote better international relationships and the cause ol peace among nations. '1 lie council was a small body of ten delegates, of whom four were permanent and six were elected yearly by the d-3 sovereign (Stales. There was also what might be called the permanent civil service, the Secretariat, under Sir Erie Drummond, with headquarters at Geneva. Illustrations were given by Air Wilson of the practical help the League bad ..eon to Austria and Hungary in the economic sphere, literally rescuing those countries from bankruptcy and the people from starvation. He also mentioned the protection given to 3(10,1.09 refugees, who had lied into Greece from the Turks. In the matter of into: national health safeguards, tlie League has done great work, especially in preventing the spread of disease from Russia westward into biiropc. 'flic committee set up In deal with the matter achieved the extraordinary result of drawing a sanitary zone, and so .stopped the spread of diseases beyond certain cunlined areas The work of the League in dealing with diseases Jr the Far East, the prohibition of the opium trade, and the trade in women and children was also touched upon. The League of Nations. said Air Wilson, provided lor an expert consideration of precise questions liy States, with a view to finding how far agreements on disputed points were possible. Examples 'weic given ol the Ixuiguo’s virtual prevention of war. the settlement of the Greek-Italian dispute. and also the Anglo-Turkish" dispute over the Alosul boundary question. being eases in point. One in portaut feature ot the League’s activities was its guaranteeing of protection to minorities. The Geneva Protocol represented, the last attempt to bring about a reduction of arms among nations consistent with national safety and the carrying out of the common aspirations for ensuring the peace ot the world. The Protocol aimed at giving ,'oeurity to all countries which accepted arbitration in disputes. It was an amendment to the Covenant of the League and must lie read in conjunction with it. It defined an "aggressive State as one which went to war and refused to submit its ease to arbitration. The Protocol also provided lor a Disarmament' Conference among nations. If this was not held, or if held, did not succeed in reducing armaments, then the whole of the Protocol lapsed and became null and void. The lecture was illustrated with some interesting slides. The following resolution was carried unanimously : “This meeting warmly approves the principles underlying the Geneva Protocol, and congratulates the Fifth Assembly of Hie League of Nations on the great advance towards permanent peace achiored bv the general recognition that arbitration, security, ami disarmament baud in hand, and urges the Government and Parliament- of New Zealand to support the policy embodied in . Protocol.”