LEAGUE’S AIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 5

LEAGUE’S AIMS.

A REPLY TO CRITICISM. MAKING WAR LESS PROBABLE. ATTITUDE TOWARDS GERMANY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received April 1, 5.5 p.m. London, March 31. Lord Robert Cecil, interviewed by the Australian Press Association, said he was surprised to read the expression of disappointment and depression over the League’s Conferences at Geneva, which was made by Senator E. D. Millen, who represented Australia at the last meeting of the League. On the contrary, the Assembly’s success had encouraged the majority of delegates. Possibly Senator Millen’s disappointment arose through the expectation of something differing from what the Covenant contemplated. Apparently, he added, Senator Millen thought the League, if effective, ought to have raised fifty thousand troops to protect Armenia, while Mr. W. M. Hughes complained of its failure to assist Poland, indicating that both hoped for the League forming a super-State, and commanding troops able to impose their will on the recalcitrant nations forcibly. Such an organisation would -be possibly advantageous; but the League Covenant did not contemplate anything of the kind. Lord' Robert added that the League’s only aim was to render war less probable, contemplating coercion solely in the event of a member plunging into war without allowing the League Council or an international court to investigate the casus belli. Otherwise, a member’s independence and sovereignty were entirely untouched. The Geneva meeting’s chief success arose from the encouragement of international co-operation, and the free and open discussion of world probl erne threatening the maintenance of peace. Undoubtedly the conference did a great deal to assuage the bitterness the war had created, particularly among the small Powers of Central and Eastern t Europe, through freedom of intercourse and the removal of misunderstanding. Moreover, a foundation had been laid in the direction of international co-operation relating to health and transit, and the establishment of an international-court of justice.

“I notice the Australian statesmen emphatically repudiate the idea of admitting Germany to the League,” said Lord Robert. ‘’Possibly Australia does not realise the urgent need for the pacification of Europe like those residing in Europe do. Nevertheless, I am convinced that real peace is the present day’s most urgent need, and it is unobtainable without the whole-hearted acceptance of the League, the efficiency of which directly depends on the inclusion of the world’s great nations. Germany’s inclusion at present may be impossible, and, if so, this is a great misfortune which, in my judgment, every patriotic Britisher ought to do his utmost to remove at the earliest possible moment.” —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.