PARLIAMENT OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT OF NATIONS.

PART OF THE DOMINIONS. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. By T«lfgr»pb —rress Assn -Copyright. London, Dec. 22. The Empire Parliamentary Association gave a luncheon to Dominion delegates to the League of Nations, with the exception of those who arc spending Christmas in the south of France. Mr. Lloyd George, presiding, proposed the toast of the Dominions and regretted the absence of Mr. Milieu. The -Premier said Sir James Allen represented New Zealand, which contributed such wonderful service in the War. The delegates had returned from the great errand of attending the first Parliament of Nations at Geneva. The experiment had been launched and a good deal accomplished. The most conspicuous thing achieved was the creation of ft Court, of Justice. The outsanding 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 had been a league in 191-1 thci* wtttild have been no war involving thirty million casualties *nd the destruction of untold wealth. They could felicitate themselves on the fine part the Empire delegates had played at Geneva. There were amendments to the Covenant which were needed to make it effective. The League would not achieve its full purpose until all countries* were admitted. He was glad to pec that eertain enemy States had been admitted. He was sanguine that Germany would so fulfil her obligations as to secure her admission without opposition and he looked hopefully to America's inclusion. The question of disarmament had not progressed. There would be no real peaee among the nations so long as competing 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 pos:\ble, otherwise the nations could not take risks; all must march together in the matter before the League could effectiveily achieve its aim. ■ Sir George Foster (Canada), replying, said the league had achieved reasonable results at the first assembly. The manner in which delegates from the various nations had learned something of each other was a gTeat achievement, even if nothing else had been accomplished. A strong point was that the League was founded upon the ineradicable ideal of preventing war'and securing 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 member. Sir G. Foster stated that though the Covenant was not perfect the Assembly felt it should have a proper trial before it was amended on the spur of the moment. The League had not got all the sympathy it should. Many expected great results which no human power could have produced. What was wanted was more propaganda in every nation, showing what the League could do if humanity would give it whole-hearted and solid support. The British Empire was (stronger to-day by reason of the members forgathering at Geneva.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.