24, replying in the debate on the League of Nations, admitted that so far, in its early days, the League of Nations had not' cesponded to the great hopes entertained of it, and he said so with the greatest sorrow. He continued:
Several circumstances militated against the success of the League; the greatest of all perhaps was what he might call the defection of America, There was no doubt the League had been largely dependent on the strength and support of America, for its initial success. America could have brought to the League influences and resources absolutely needed today, but she had not chosen to] f, play the part of a moral Jeader of the world. He hoped the time was coming when America would understand and appreciate what the position was. Whatever the reason was it did not become them to, pass judgement on America. It might be that after the Presidential election America would take up her true position and help to pull the League through its initial difficulties, The second difficulty was the apparent supersession of the League of Nations by the Supreme Council, which led to the impression that the Supreme Council was usurping the functions of the League and that the latter was being pushed into the background. He hoped that the time was not far off when the Council would recognize that it was best the two bodies should combine.
Brow or Pottse War.
General Smuts pointed out that of the five Great Powers, America and Japan were standing apart. They were left with Great Britain, France, and Italy, The last named was struggling with overpowering interna] difficulties, which left Great Britain and France responsible for the state of affairs which had arisen in the world and had to be remedied. It was hopeless to expect that two Powers could right the situation which was daily becoming worse. If this situation cortinned he was afraid they were running very. grave risks. The danger was that other Powers would combine and range themselves against these two, and the world would again' be drawn into dissensions on these grounds.
The third blow was undoubtedly the Polish war, which had done more to make people realize the apparent impotency of the League than anything else. It was only by focussing public opinion on
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.