THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1928, Page 2

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

MODERN patriotism. CONDEMNED BY DEAN INGE. Australian Press Assn.—United Service GENEVA, Sept. 2.

Dean Inge, prcacTiing in tlio Cathedral on the eve of the Assembly, said the three chief obstacles to the triumph of peace were, firstly, the form national patriotism had taken in modern times. Patriotism was too noble an emotion for outright condemnation. it only needed directing. Secondly, the fear and causes of fear must ho removed or, despite all treaties, war would again come. Thirdly, tho Government recognising that a country was heading lor civil strife, might go to war as the only chance of averting internal disruption. Tho crux of the whole problem could he. the League of Nations security against a nation choosing to break the covenant.

The Daily Chronicle says the posession of armaments is a stronger motive for war than any of Doan Inge’s three points. The Great AVar arose from tho Gerpian militarists’ desire to use the world's most wonderful war machine. So far as paper agreements are concerned, the world, since the Armistice. has really made great progress towards permanent peace. It is most ominous that Europe’s armaments are still greater than before tho war.

SAMOAN MANDATE REPORT. GENEVA, Sept. 1. The League Council received the report of tho Mandates Commission upon AA r c,st Samoa, The Dutch delegate. M. Van Bloklaud, reporting on the matter, said the Commission had examined all the documents, the most important of which was the report of the New Zealand Government’s Royal Commission. New Zealand, in thus laying tile complete •docume!nta;tion Before the Council and also allowing it to hear Sir. 0. R.iclmrdson showed the fullest comprehension of the Mandate's Commission’s duties, and its own responsibilities. V an Bloklaiul added that the Commission had considered the suggestion that certain natural unrest would continue until the League laid taken action. It should b'e clearly understood the Mandatory alone was responsible for maintaining law and order in conformity with the Mandate. He said “in my opinion, the Mandates Commission’s conclusions are so important that they should he given the widest publicity in New Zealand, and Samoa.”

The Council adopted tho Mandates Commission’s observations, and instructed the Secretary-General to forward them to the New Zealand Government, as Sir J. Parr had not arrived owing'to rail delay. Lord Cusheiiclun said he believed that Sir J. Parr would have expressed satisfaction with the Commission's report, and he thanked Van Bloklaiul for his remarks. He did not doubt that the New Zealand Government would give the report the widest publicity.

POSITION AT GENEVA. ■ LONDON, Sept. 3. The “Daily Express’s” Geneva correspondent states: The Prime Minister of Germany, Austria, Canada, Norway a,ml of Greece, and twenty Foreign Ministers have arrived for the Jjcngu'c ot Nations sessions.

Lord Cushendun’s statement has done much to remove the misunderstandings over the Anglo-French naval compromise, but the, failure to publish the text of the agreement is still causing anxiety.

The latest suggestion is that, although the agreement is purely a technical ono, it does not tell the full story, 'because it is intended to ho followed up by diplomatic negotiations for complete accord Several of the speakers are expected to refer indirectly to tho subject in general debate in the League Assembly. Germany will support the small powers in their demand for the fixing of a definitlie date for the disarmament conference Italy is a new fly in the ointment, as France is most perturbed by , last week’s Italian anti-peace pact press campaign, following anti-French attacks. Only M. Briand’s sagacity lias prevented the presentation of a demand for apologies for recent insults to France. BERLIN, September 3. Premier Mueller has issued a statement that 'he would demand at Geneva the complete evacuation of German sail by the Allied troops.

LEAGUE ASSEMHLV. (Received this day at 9.?0 a.nt.) GENEVA, September 3. Australians have been appointed to the following commissions—First, legal complication!!!, Harrison and Afoore; .second, technical, Lord li.vrie; third, disarmament; sixth, political AlcHaeli. bill; fourth, financial, Hnillieu ; fifth, social, humanitarian, Airs AtacDonnell.

Procope (Finland) in a presidential address at the assembly of Hie League said the problems now facing them compared with those of the previous years, showed the progress that had been made. The technical organisation of the League was daily being better adapted to its purpose. The League’s essential task was to bring about political and legal settlements, which would create such a feeling of security as to make war impossible. The League was .seeking with untiring pertinacity to prevent a repetition of the errors of the past to close every loophole through which war ever entered. The Assembly was opening under happy auspices as the Pact for the outlawry of war based on the League’s ideals had been signed. He sent cordial greetings to the United States, congratulating the authors of the Pact, especially Mr Kellogg and AI. Briand. ■■ GENEVA, Sep. 3.

Cognisance of the Paris Pact was taken by the League in no minor key as many believed, hut a generous chorus of approval and congratulations as voiced ill the President’s address. Naturally it reiterated the League’s slogan to hasten slowly. It *also benevolently referred to the peoples’ wonderment why the League had not hustled more (between the sessions. He then went on to hail the Past as a splendid proof of the progress of. the peace ideal and a triumph of their i faith in the League’s future. This, with the League’s last year’s resolution condemning wars of aggression made it obligatory for them to carry into effect every logical, natural and indispensable consequence of such resolutions with the hope of final victoiy. There was rather a lethargic opening, due to;the President’s wearisome survey of every domestic activity of the League.