1937-08-27 — Page 16

Page

CHINA MAT

199

ROCK IN A QUAKING WORLD

Tirk conference of

the Prime Minister

the frankness

Ministers and other delegates and realism with which the funda- result of the con

of the British Commonwealth of mental problems of our time had the change it

Nations, which has recently ended, beer discussed behind the closed attitude of thes

monwealth

has been by far the most important doors of the conference. But if the League of Nations and

-

with the

ntially unstable, with folent antagonism between of the series of imperial conferen- one combines the official text with consequences for foreign policy a still ces which began as long ago as the what newspapermen call the "inside which are likely to follow. The na- Communism and Fascism, and with 1887 Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It information" which always circula- tions of the Commonwealth - have a les open but still none the less noble but real world-wide conflict between the has been important for two main tes outside, it is possible to see stepped down from a reasons. On the one hand it has that the conference marked a very rather visionary idealism to reality, authoritarian or totalitarian view of been the first meeting since the definite stare both in the evolution The League of Nations represents a man and government, and the liberal decline in the aninority of the Lea of the Commonwealth is end-in-vision of what the world may some and democratic view. Though it gue of Nations which has been its policy toward the rest of the day become a vision which should rightly refused to join in any rapid after its failure in Abyssinia, world.

be steadily worked toward

crusade against other systems of government, which are matters for each nation to settle for itself, the dominant sense within the confer ence seems to have been that it was more important to stabilise that part of the world which is still demo- the old Empire of Britain into an this: Whereas since 1920 the na- a system of world government cratic so that freedom can be association of mainly independent tions of the Commonwealth have Evan as a system of co-operation, tainly defended there rather than to

maintain

peace nation states, in no way subordin accepted the League of Nations both it was fatally wounded at birth by attempt ate to one another but united by as the solution of their internal pro- the withdrawal of the United States by force in areas where few of the

*

conditions of pea ace yet common purposes and by loyalty to blems and as the sole foundation a common non-political Crown.

The report of the proceedings not very explicit. It never is Mr. Neville Chamberlain said,

and since the re-emergence of seri- If one can summarize what has. But in an age of intense nationa- -ons: risk of world war- On the other happened in a single sentence, it is lism, the League cannot be made

hand, it has been the first meeting of the imperial conference since the passage of the Statute of West- minster in 1930 finally transformed

By The Marquis Of Lothian

*

of their foreign policy, the British Nor has the League been able to is Commonwealth of Nations itself has mitigate either economic nationalism As now become their principal concern. or the reparations-war debt illu- the They profess and genuinely pro- sion which together produe

to

That certainly acc with my own view. I feel that the Imperial

imperial conference is rather an fess attachment to the "aims and ed the great depress when Conference has brought nearer, what

foundation

movement for peace,

occasion for taking counsel together ideals of the League of Nations it came to resisting aggression, the I believe.. than for coming to decisions. And but they do not mention "collective experience both of Manchuria and upon which at the final meeting every Prime security" and they clearly consider Abyssinia has proved that its mem- prosperity and liberty among men that its function is to promote peace bers are not willing to risk war can be based That is a growing "by methods of co-operation, joint except where their own vital in realisation by the two great groups injuiry and conciliation" rather than terests are engaged

THE

WORLD

GOES BY

-

of peoples of which the United by military sanctions. While they The League has failed for the States and Great Britain are the hope for all-round disarmament, same reasons that caused the failure centres that they have a com- they support rearmament as an im- of the American Confederation be mon interest, - „not nfsetting of the world to mediate policy, though each con- tween 1781 and 1789, and the dis the rest stituent part will take the mea- appearance of the illusion that it rights, but in eserving and de- [sures it thinks best. But the mea- could be turned into a world gov fending against external attack sures of rearmament which they ernment will make for the peace liberal and democratic institutions commend are clearly measures

among the free nations which abut the world which are designed to conduce to The League as vital piece of on the great oceans on whit their the security of the nations of the diplomatic machinery will recover, fleets and air forces are predo Commonwealth collectively and in- for a world-wide institution of this minant "Christian Science Monitor" dividually and to fulfillment of cer- nature is necessary in a rapidly

Of

QUERY from a reader who tain special regional obligations shrinking world. But it will never! A seems to imagine I am some which individual members may as be able to discharge the functions kind of social editor, baffles me, assume and not as part of a world which its champions have sought to I am not familiar with the Social wide system of collective action to impose upon it until its members Swim. He says he has been asked prevent any alternation of the are willing to pool some part of out to dinner, and so what? All status quo except by agreement.. ther sovereignty in federation,

can tell him is what I have derived from the office copy of "Etiquette in High Society." The following may by of use to him-

Speaking broadly, therefore, the and that they certainly are not primary result of the imperial con- ready to do to day. ference has been a movement away The Imperial Conference has from commitment to intervene in quietly buried the impracticable as Chapter IV. At dinner. Page 61. all the complexities and fears and pects of the League of Nations. It "If you have occasion to expectorate, hatreds of central and eastern has said, in effect, that the League do it discreetly and behind hand

And another answer correspondent, who signs

You were

your Europe to a position far nearer that

THE LATEST

EDITION

KELLY'S

your Europe to a position far nearer that cannot exercise universal functions DIRECTORY

of the United States. This was fur- until it is once more a universal

another ther emphasised by the welcome it body. And it has recognised that himself gave ken Thea region their national emblem, not fof their staple diet. No nder got yourself disliked.

you bo

Australian proposal for the immediate problem of to understanding and pact not to create a new systera

ssion by the countries tary sanctions on the Pacifie

If the authority of the British race is lessening and the power of In spite of the war, I am told other races and civilisations is in- there are people who pretend not to believe in Hell

creasing, within it, there is a grow ing sense that all have a common interest in the maintenance of de- One of my brethren in the inky mocratic institutions which are now way has just observed that women threatened both by subversion from dress to please men. hear he within and by dictatorships from was a married man at that, but without Its members also realise must have been misinformed more clearly every day that while thought everyone knew that women as individual states few, except never dress to please men but

can make certain of its ow rity in the event annoy each other. If

general war, van present 2

Teader w

this, I

as 2 Woma

sion bu

to- tron of th

create

Versailles,-and- obstacle to lasting peace-

the Treaties

riendly

rging should

be separated from the Covenant of the League

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