The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1926. GROUPING OF THE NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1926. GROUPING OF THE NATIONS.

Jt is not opposition to the ideals of the League of Ovations that dictates America’s refusal to become a member, but, comments the Lyttelton Times, fears of being drawn against her will into European Complications. That the objects aimed at by the nations appeal to her is evidenced by the widespread attention given to a proposal that has recently been advanced in that country. It assumes the necessity for reorganisation of the League at no distant date, and advocates a system of continental councils as the most effective method of removing features in the present constitution ta which the most serious objection is offered.

According to the advocates of the project, the League of Nations should consist of a General Assembly with a body of a permanent officials as at present, drawn from the countries that claim membership, and ill addition, a council for each continent or geographical unit. These bodies would be representative of the nations ,of the group and would deal with questions that particularly affected them. As an arbiter, and dealing with problems of world-wide importance, there would be a Supreme Council. Hut the regional councils, through acknowledging the general authority of the League, would have virtual autonomy, and it is held that under such a system the United States would have every inducement to become a member, seeing that her present objections would be then non-exist-ent. It i.s further claimed that she could not longer have any apprehension that a holly, which has been described by Americans as essentially European, would intervene in purely American problems. Criticism has been directed against the League in present conditions as being unduly iVnninated by the Great Powers of "Europe, and it is argued that the proposal for regional councils would confine their nctivitiev to matters in which they were directly concerned. The Supreme Council would he composed of representatives from the different groups of nations, and it would be possible for one country to be a member of more than one group, according to the interests involved. Thus Great Britain, in addition to her intimate coinfection with Europe, would he entitled to representatives in the Asiatic and African sections. and through her dominions in those of America and the Pacific, while other nations could also claim similar rights in a lesser degree. At first sight the proposal of grouping the Powers appears to have much to commend it. for when a peculiarly European question was recently raised by the League of Nations, a solution was rendered impossible by the action of a South American country which had no direct interest in the issue. That sueli a position mnv recur i.s quite possible, and advocates of the proposal to groun the nations see in their plan the removal of a difficulty that is likely to hamper the effectiveness of the League. Tf the proposed reorganisation were accomplished. America, holding tenaciously to the Monroe "Doctrine and encouraging a Pan-American Union, would have no reason for continuing her nolicy of splendid isolation, for most of her arguments against the League would fall to the ground. While it m.nv he argued that instead of diminishing the oower of the Teague, its efficiency would he strengthened bv grnnning the nations with common interests.

there would undoubtedly he obvious dangers. The machinerv provided for the Asiatic section might easily he put to a nnrrv'se other than that for which it was designed, and disturbing tendencies apparent in the Far East pro-

vidcd with opportunities for development that could not- be viewed with complete equanimity. But the proposal is interesting and worthy of consideration. If after close examination it is proved that the objections outweigh the more obvious advantages, it will stand as an earnest effort to further the ideals of the League of Nations. For that reason alone it cannot he put lightly aside.