THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3660, 23 December 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

DOMINION DELEGATES ENTERTAINED. Received 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 22. The Empire Parliamentary Association gave a luncheon to the Dominion delegates to the League of Nations, with the exception of those spnding Christmas m the South of France. Mr Lloyd George, presiding, proposed the toast of the Dominions. I He regretted the absence of Senator Millen, and said Sir Jams Allen represented New Zealand, which had contributed such) wonderful service in the war. The delegates had returned from a great errand, attending the first Parliament of the Nations at Geneva. The experiment had been launched, a good deal had been accomplished, and the most conspicuous thing achieved was the creation of a Court of Justice. The outstanding fact was that the nations of the world had been " brought together for the discussion of matters which troubled the peoples of the world. If there been a League of Nations in 1914, there would have been no war, involving thirty million casualties and the destruction of untold, wealth. They could felicitate themselves on the fine part the Empire delegates had played at Geneva. There were amendment to the Covenant which were needed to ' make it effective, and the League would not achieve its full purpose until all countries were admitted. He was glad to see certain' enemy States admitted, and he was sanguine that Germany would so fulfil her obligations as to secure her admission without opposition; and he looked hopefully to American’s inclusion. The question of disarmament had not progressed, and there would .be no real peace among the notions so long as competition in armaments existed. It was no use establishing a great peace association if on the other hand there was to be increasing competition in armaments; but all nations must enter the League before disarmament would be possible. Otherwise, nations could not take risks, as all must march, together in the matter before the League could effectively achieve its aim.

Mr Foster, replying, said! the League had achieved reasonable. Tesults at its first Assembly. The manner in which the delegates from the various nations Sa'ct Teamed something of each other was a great achievement, even if nothing else had been accomplished. The strong point was that the League was founded upon an ineradicable ideal to prevent war and to secuire a reasonable peace for the human race. The League was not going to fail, even if some considerable nations did not enter for a year or two. He believed America would yet become a prominent membet. Mr Poster stated that though th covenant was no perfect, the Assembly felt it should have a proper trial before it was amended on the spur of the moment. The League had not yet all the sympathy it should have got, and many expected great results which no human power could have produced. What was wanted was more propaganda, every nation showing what it could do if humanity would give it whole and solid support. The British Empire was stronger to-day by reason of its members foregathering at Geneva.