LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 June 1918, Page 6

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

VISCOUNT GREY’S PROPOSALS. SOME OF THE ESSENTIALS. LONDON, June 20. Viscount Grey’? pamphlet explains some esentials of the League of Nations. The first condition that must bo adoped is earnestness and conviction by the Executive’s hands. He states that this condition is present as regards the United States, and is, or; win he, as regards all the Allies; while ! among the enemies the Austrian pub- I lie has shown a disposition to accept j the proposal and would probably wel- , come it genuinely, though secretly, as a safeguard not only against old ene-j mies, but against Prussian domination j Small States, both belligerent and neutral, must, he thinks, naturally; -;™n rtn League as a safeguard

i against aggression. As regards Ger- , | manv. she will have to be convinced that force does not pay, and that the policy of her military leaders will inflict npon her intolerable sufferings. ; Until she feels this, the League of Nations in the sense intended by Pre- j sident Wilson is impossible, as such j a League must include Germany. The | second condition is that Governments ! and peoples willing to found the League must understand clearly that it will impose limitations on national action. Upon each it may entail inconvenient obligations. Stronger ma r tions must forego their claim to make their interests prevail against the weaker. If any nation refuses to' ob- ! serve this limitation, or rejeuts peacej ful methods and resorts to force, other nations must us© their combined economic or military and ■ naval forces

against it. Yiscount Grey emphasises that the science and munitions of war aro getting more terrible and detractive, and asks what it will be twenty years hence if the reseaches of science are devoted to discoveries for destroying human lifef Even the Germans are not blind to this, but their rulers propose to avoid future wars by establishing domination for ever. But peace can never be thus secured. The idea is impracticable, unfair and abhorrent. Viscount Grey expresses the opinion that the establishment of a League of Nations is more important to secure peace than any actual terms that may conclude the present war, for the best terms are of little value unless th's future relations of States are based on something to prevent the recurrence of militarism. The "United States and the Allies cannot save the world from militarism unless Germany learns her lesson thoroughly and completely and they cannot save the world, or even themselves, by a complete victory ove¥ Germany, until they also havo learned and can apply the Icsshft that militarism has become th& <3%adly enemy of mankind.