The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 19197. A LEAGUE OF PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1917, Page 5

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 19197. A LEAGUE OF PEACE.

Lord Bryce, pacificist and publicist, has unfolded a scheme for a League of Nations to prevent war. It is, the cable tells us, bolder than the American plan advocated by Mr. Taft and approved by President Wilson. Lord Bryce'a scheme suggests a judicial tribunal and conciliation tribunal, to which disputes shall be submitted, the latter dealing with questions unsuitable for legal handling. The scheme contemplates, although it does not definitely enjoin, the use of common force to effect its decisions. Lord Bryce, in a prefatory note, hopes the scheme will pave the way for postwar discussion how to deter aggressive Governments from war,- or make war less probable, .Signatories will be required not to declare war or prepare for hostilities under a definite period, after the tribunal announces its awards; otherwise the league will collectively act against the aggressor. We all must hope that the present fearful war, with

its imlold suffering and loss of life. not to speak uf the colossal material destruction, will serve as a warning to future generations that war is nothing more nor less than hell, and cannot pay. But history teaches us that after every big war the same belief concerning the futility and abhorrence of war prevailed, yet the conviction did not prevent ambitious leaders and nations from provoking war when it suited their purposes, ffc have only to instance Napoleon, Frederick the Great, and the present Kaiser. The three had the lust for power developed to an inordinate degree. Xone of them distinguished between right and wrong before deciding upon war. Tt was sufficient that war offered prizes which they had only to reach for and secure. All three were able to fire their people with the same nefarious desires, and secure their fullest support. They never looked at the moral side' or the question; only the material counted. In the case of Germany the people saw that the policy was nationally, success-

ful. By making war on Denmark, then on Austria, and later 011 France, they secured additional territory and population, and thus were able to form a strong nation. As soon as they had consolidated the status into the Gerimuiic Empire, they deliberately set out upon a policy of expansion, securing colonies all over the world, and preparing to gain further territory and "spheres of influence'' in Europe that would lead inevitably lo world dominance. Their plans have been fully ex-po-ed during the war, but that they vere close—very close—to realisation, no one can deny. That (heir plans miscarried was due to no lack of forethought or organisation on their part. The world escaped subjugation, and the i'rilisli Kmpiru destruction by little •hurt of n series of miracles. That, however, is another story. The point is that at 110 time did the Germans, even tlieir professors and clergymen, consider the moral element. In their opinion the employment of any means, the foullest and most inhuman, were quite justified so long as the end was gained. Now, how can a nation so perverted as the Germans ever again be trusted to keep the peace? Their morality, their honor, how much would they count for among Hie nations in future? For nothing. Behind any international court of honor, therefore, there must he force, and plenty of it; otherwise its decrees might be as valid as the Treaty of Belgium. Force is wanted on the sea ! and on land to give effect to the judgJ menls of such a tribunal. The formaition of a strong international navy and army, no doubt, would present 110 insuperable difficulty, providing the great Powers were in agreement, but supposing unanimity did not ex'ist, how could it be, done? It is too early, howevc-r.

to talk about setting up an international court of arbitration, We have first to punish Germany and her dupes. They have to be taught that nations must subscribe to a code of morals, as well as individuals, that they cannot fail on their unsuspecting neighbors, murder them, and take possession of others' property at will, that they cannot outrage the laws of God and man with imji'iinity; in short, that war does not pay. mder any circumstances. The Allies have declared clearly and emphatically | that they must insist upon reparation | for the past and security for the l'u'lure. Reparation means that the enemj | evacuate all the conquered territories. | Germany must also make reparation i for the seizures of territory which oc- ' curred before the war. Alsace and Lor- | raine must be restored to Franca, Schleswig-llolstein to Denmark, Polish I Prussia to the new sub-kingdom of Po-' land. Germany must also make mir- ■ terial reparation for the innocent blood j she shed during her barbarian conquests, for the buildings destroyed, for ! the homes burned down, and for all the ; rest of the ruin she has wrought in Belgium and France, in Serbia, and foland. Germany, too, must make reparation for the ships she has destroyed by her inhuman submarining. As for the colonies, Germany has forfeited all right ! !.o them. "Let 110 man think that these I territories shall ever return to German rule. It is impossible," so said Mr. Walter Long, British Cofonial Secretary, a short time ago. We did not desire the colonies, lior did wo want to enter the war, but we shall never again after this lesson take any chances with the. Germans, and the colonies will form a part of the price they will be forced to pay for their misdeeds. The Balkans have to be cleaned up, and the territories arranged on the principle of uationaliity, with the exception .that Turkey must be denationalised, for the reason that she is unfit to rule, and would always be, as in the past, a menace to the world's peace. Then as to securities, we must insist upon having 110 truck with the Hohenzollerns and the Bctli-mann-Holhveg set of national criminals, as well as the Hapsburgs, and we must also make it a condition of negotiation that the Germanic Powers shall be democratised. These terms are not vengeful; they are but terms of punishment for colossal crimes, and. a warning to posterity that Nations which do the things that Germans and Austrians have done must pay the penalty. Until wc exact reparation for the past and security for the future it is, as we have said, futile to discuss schemes for the settlement of international disputes, and keeping tho peace of the world. Sucl a condition can only bo brought nhoul Oil the battlefields, and, thanl: Cod, tin issue is 110 longer in doubt.