TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19897, 28 May 1936, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

League of Nations Flag With the opening of the new and permanent home of the League of Nations, the project of an international flag has been revived. Certainly a flag is a symbol, and if individual peoples find something inspiring in the national emblem of unity, should not the union of peoples rally round an international emblem? In League circles there has for some time been considerable talk of such a flag. A few years ago a Dutch philanthropist otfered a prize for the most suitable design, and no fewer than 3000 were entered in the competition. They were exhibited at Brussels, and five of them were chosen by a jury. These projects were examined by the delegutions and together with some 300 others were exhibited in the hall at (it‘lleva. This initiative was of a private character and no delegate has summoned up sufficient courage to make a definite proposal. Theodore Ryssen. the secretary general of the International I‘nion of League of Nations Societies, remarks that the League, in the fulfilment of its functions, has had to improvise flags. For example, when it was administering the Sitar before the plebiscite, iL adopted the colours of the Saar itself, which floated above the editions occupied by the Commission. In the Leticia dispute, the matter was more ditlieult. It could not display the flag of either purty; and it was compelled to improvise a {lug—a white flag on which the name of the League figured in blue letters. As is properly pointed out, whatever may be thought of the significance, sometimes had, given to banners, they are so necessary in many circumstances, that not only nations but cities, not only cities by societies, sporting, professional, religious, choose their i colours. There is scan-ply a school or a club which does not adopt l some special sign. Only the League of Nations is without a flag. l Flags have often been used in stirring up warlike passion. Why i should a flag not lu- used to represent pai'ifie intentions? The t national idea has lwon Stimulated; why not the international idea”?

.4 Modern Creed “Tlmro has arisen in revviit (lay: at new political creed, the capital :lrtivlo in \\'llll‘ll is [lint tln‘ State is tn be regarded us t-tllivully ultimutv. 't'liv oswntinl ulcmvnts in this tlm'trino are MH'll :I< those. 'l'liv (‘ritoriun of national morality is nut any otliir'ul COll~ t‘t‘ptlllll, hlll‘ll as ,llthttt‘t' or rigliteoumioss, but is the ‘nutinnul in-tt-rvst'; and the justifying cnd’ of the State is that it be power ~nf organisation and also of arms—to serve that and effectively and. it" opposition should arise. irresistibly. Tlms ‘fnrt't‘ gives a title to right.‘ Snub is lliv pulitii-nl oror‘d \\‘lllt'il has ruptured—or hr‘vn lll]|ll|.\i‘ll ”pun—mafia: of people in great nuliuu: of lgluuropc to—da)." ——l)r. Karl Heiua. '