THE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1920, Page 5

THE LEAGUE.

AUTHORITY QUESTIONED. "STIFLED IN ITS CRADLE." By Telefraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 17. There is renewed discussion on the question of the utility of the League of Nations, to which the Nauru Island debate contributed. The discussion showed increasing candour and pessimism. The Times, in an editorial, describes as a pompous farce the League's offer of mere sympathy to Persia, accompanied by advice to the Persian Government to await Russia's promises. It is enough to provoke world-wide homeric laughter, following as it did on a flat refusal of the Soviet authorities to admit to Russia the League's investigating committee, The League merely threw upon the Soviet Government the entire responsibility, which it refused to accept. The Times believes that only malice could involve the crippled League in situations at present beyond' its strength. Enough has already been done almost to kill it, and the British and French must try to nurse and protect the League while awaiting help from America. The Guardian suggests that the Nauru deal weakens the authority of the League, to which the world was entitled to look for assistance in reconstruction work and the maintenance of .the open door. The Westminster Gazette fears the League may be stifled in its cradle. It declares tiie Nauru Bill stupid and unprincipled. It creates a precedent for defeating the leading principle of the League and offers our rivals a working model for evasions.