Mr. Asquith has defined for the League of Nations Union
the pointa on which he would insist in regard to the much-debated ideeL First, he would declare that a League of Nations must not Ourrtsli the political independence of the constituent States, or seek .to fuse the national individualities of their peoples. That is, he is not an Internationalist. The League's object, for him, would be the abolition of war as a method of settling disputes. The League would act as a conciliator or arbitrator, but in the last resort it would take joint coercive action. It
would become in time "the clearing.house of . discussion and negotiation between States." It would admit "all States who can give an earnest of their loysaty to its spirit-and its purpose." It would protect the smaller. States and backward races. It would be "free to treat as outside-the comity, of'nations such States as still adhere to militarism and the rule of force." Mr. Asquith thus envisages a very elaborate world organization, backed by fleets and armies.
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