LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 368, 18 February 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

(Wellington Branch). Resolution Passed at Meeting of Council, December 3, 1925. “This Gouncil records its deep gratiXioulion that the Locarno Pact has now been signed by the Powers affected by its provisions, and its equal pleasure that Germany will now enter the League of Nations. The Pact, while not the immediate work of the League, is nevertheless t.he outcome of the League's efforts to provide a basis for security and disarmament, and will be administered by the League. If the Pact is followed, jus in all probability it soon will be, by the adhesion of the Pnited States to the L-ague's International Court of Justice at the Hague, there will open out before the League, which has already abundantly justified its existence, a future of incalculable prestige and authority. This Council finds in the status quo not only nn oeca sion of great thankfulness and a vindication of its faith in the I/eague, but also a call to renewed diligence in its efforts to arouse an intelligent interest in the work of the League and an active sympathy with its ideals and aims.” THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHI'KCH (It has lx*en brought to the notice of the Dominion Union of the League ot Nations that the statements made In various directions as to the relation between the Leagu • of Nations and tb< Konum Cutholic Church have rais«sl in the minds of many actual memWrs of the League of Nations Unions and many symputhisers who would like to Income members, doubts as to wh ther they are justified in thus linking up with tbe Union. The poaition was vigorously dealt with some years ago by Professor I Tingle in the South Island."

I .'or the benefit of tinders who did noi hive the privilege of hearing or reudin. the Professor's reply, tne following additional pronouncement is now issued.) From time to time it is asserted by foolish and. it Is to bo feared, prejudice! persons, that the league of Nations is an organised attempt by the Roman Catholic Church to subject Protestant notions to its authority, and indeed to achieve world supremacy. I? will he hard to convince those who accept this grotesque .absurdity of its radie.il fa

sity. The man who is persuaded that t.ho earth is fiat, or that the moon is made of green cheese, wil. stick to hn opinion, in spite of all the astronomer’. Th«> man who is persuaded that the League of Nations is inspired by the Roman Catholic Church will Ik* of th same opinion even though he shade of its originator, Dr. Wilson, President of the United States, and a Presbyterian, should “revisit thus the glin pses of t v moon’ to assure him that he is mis taken. On what grounds is this remarkable charge against the League based? As far as we can discover, on these: (1) There ore enrolled on the membership of the League a larger number of Catholic than of Protestant nations. (2) Sir Eric Drummond, the Secretary General of the league, is a (Catholic. (1) Man) of the Catholic nations of the League are small and insignificant, and neither singly nor collectively do they exert a determining influence in its operations. The Powers that sway the League’s decisions are those usually spoken of as the Great Powers. Of these, Britain is Protestant; Germany, which will presently Ik i member *f tile League, is Protestant. France i: not Protestant, but only sheer and wi’ful Ignorance would venture to call France Catholic; the Catholic hierarch) of France is in d adly opposit on to th French Government and Parliamenl.

Italy is Catholic. Japan is neither Protestant nor lYitholic. Against th> decision of these Powers ali the CSatho lie countries of the world could make no stand, cv. n if they attempted it, und they never do. Moreover, many of tl smaller nations of the league arc Pro lestanl. inciu ling the British Ponwn ,»,n:i and the Scandinavian countries. It would not lie difTit tilt to show tlhd Britain ex i ts by far the most powerful influence in the counsels of the League In 1923. the Treaty of Mutual Assistance fell through because Mr Ramsay Macdonald oppos- <1 it; in 1924, the 1 Totoeol fell through bc<*ause Mr ChamlK*rlain opposed it; in 192 a the Lot time Pact succeeded, und its success was dr.'' to its acceptance by Britain, again represented by Mr Chamlxrlain. As a matt' r «>f sol**r fact, it would Ik* infinitely nearer the truth to say that the l.oigue of Nations is an organisntion controlled hy Protestant Britain than by the Catholic Church. In saying so. it is not suggested that Britain sways

the League in tne special interests of Britain, but unquestionably the League does not and cannot move in any direc tlon without the concurrence of Britain. (2) Sir Eric Drummond, the Secre-tary-General, is a Catholic. Concerning this, Mr J. V. Wilson, an official of the League, but a New Zealander, ana a Presbyterian, has written as follows: “The attack on the SecretaryGeneral is not only impudent and sidy impudent, because the SecretaryGeneral is an eminent member of t h*• British Civil Service, which for genera tions has be.*n given the credit of being scrupulously careful not to allow individual religious opinions to affect public policy; and silly, because the advantage which he is supposed alone to enjoy, namely, 4he inspection of Treaties registered by the League, may Ik* shared by anyone in the whole world who wants to see them and every one of these Treaties is published by the Secretary in the original language, and in French and English also."