The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1933. WHAT OF THE LEAGUE?

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1933. WHAT OF THE LEAGUE?

J’he League of Nations is encountering serious rebuffs. Japan and Germany are both to sever their connection. Russia and the United States stand out of the combination, the latter with a benevolent interest. With iour major Powers outside the family circle, the League becomes less and less a League of Nations. Its mana was affected rather seriously -when Japan adopted open defiance to the League’s behest. Now Germany is disposed to play fast and loose with a situation of serious import to Europe in particular.. League principles nave been defied and league authority limited. The significance of the proverbial scrap of paper is in question again. What can the League do, and how can it rehabilitate itself? At the moment of the Japanese incident, pious resolution were adopted. When Germany threw sand in the machinery, the League adjourned for reflection 1 It would appear that a League without, power to impose its authority is going to be of negligible value in a real crisis; If that be so; is it to become a futility—an expensive ornament of real delusion? Much was expected of the association of nations fop the high ideal iii mind; Naturally world interests ate very complex, and ,c»’c;umst;uicQß when they are of the highest individual concern, and may be determined only by the nation itself in the house of decision. That was the Japanese view when the bre’ak occurred with the League, Though, all the League were against Japan following an independent investigation, Japan felt that the individual view was paramount, and respectfully and firmly dissented from the finding, and elected to walk alone outside the League circle. It was a momentous decision in all the circumstances, and national approval was given with all the fervour the Japanese race, is capable of. Germany dislocated the course of events apparently more in .pique than for reason. The leadership of the nation is on extravagant and unusual lines, and the leaders elected to act in a similar way towards the League. Germany is not as remote from the nerve centre of the League as Japan is, and if a question .of- disciplining arises, Germany could be dealt with more effectively than Japan. Still, the League stands for peace, and that is the prime cause for bringing it into being. The League when it reassembles must endeavour, as it did with Japan, to bring about a change of attitude by logical explanation of .the situation Germany disrupted. This may be futile. Germany is about to hold an apology for ian election in which the result is a foregone conclusion. In the fantastic way of things it may be turned to any advantage willed, but the real position is plain. The League’s power to convince or otherwise change the point of view Germany elects to adopt, Is therefore doubtful. Fascism as /practised by Hitler, is very different to that of the Italian brand, but Mussolini is believed to have some influence with the fiery leader of Germany. If so, there may be some modification of the Gorman attitude which appears to be designed to obtain all possible concessions from the League. For the time being, the League at best is the mouthpiece of Powers ‘disposed to be in earnest for world peace. It is a useful organisation, and an admirable channel through which to formulate definite opinion on international action, and is possible of great good for the benefit of the world at large. It would be very pleasing if a. swing of the pendulum would bring the nations more into line, so that fuller co-oper-ation might be possible.