POST-WAR PROBLEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1913, 10 December 1918, Page 4

POST-WAR PROBLEMS.

VIEWS OF GENERAL SMUTS

LEAGUE OF NATIONS NEEDED

London, Nov. 18

General Smuts, representing the Government us the host at a dinner in London to the American editors, said that America’s collaboration with the British Empire in reconstructing the future of the world is as significant and as promising as her entry into the war.

He, paid a tribute to the largehearted and sportsmanlike way in whichdihe British were celebrating peace without vindictiveness and with no hymns of hate.

“I had little differences with the British as you had,’ he said, ‘‘but lot us freely and frankly admit that they are a great people.” (Cheers).

The tearfulness of the fate of Prussian militarism was the most awful and most solemn judgment in history, hut all Europe to-day was broken and bleeding, and ancient institutions were collapsing wholesale. There was a danger of a great set-back from which Europe would not recover for generations. The Allies must now organise the world against hunger and unemployment. Owing to the new Continental situation it was rapidly being recognised that a League of Nations had become a sheer praeiical neeessily. The inter-allied machinery which was going to ration the countries against hunger was the tirst step towards the league. Similarly, owing to the shortages, raw materials would have to be rationed in the future.

The map of Europe would soon he a veritable medley of small nations, some of which were already threatened with internal disorders. Therefore a future international organisation to keep peace was imperative. Thus (he League of Nations, from small beginnings, would develop vitality and attract a great volume of public opinion, eventually becoming strong enough to essay the supreme task of preserving the world’s peace. The league, moreover, could usefully he employed to depute a nation to act on the league's behalf in governing certain territories, as in the case of some of Germany’s former colonies. Borne of these were quite fairly and properly claimed by. and must he given to the Dominion which conquered litem.

As regards those that were not so claimed certain powers might he deputed to hold the colonies as mandatories of the league until the question of their ultimate disposal Wits .settled, because the Allies would resist to the utmost their restoration to Germany, as it was impossible to forsee how Germany would develop in the future. Concluding, General Smuts eloquently urged the making of (he be.-t use of present opportunities. The age of: miracles was never pa<(. The whole world was again plastic and susceptible to a new creative impression, and of being re-made to lie)ter ends on the lines of universal freedom and justice, thus permanently establishing goodwill among' classes and nations. The history of South Africa since the Boer War horc immortal testimony to the wisdom of a policy of conciliation,

Jl‘ the victors in I his greatest uf wars approached (Ik* problems in the same large temper as (lie .British did al'ter llie South African War iu; believed a great reconciliation of the peoples must eventuate, even to the disappearance of war itself.