NEWS OF THE WEEK
SIGNS that conversations between the four major Allies on the subject of a new or reconstituted League of Nations are impend- ing are welcome. Last time there was no joint discussion on the subject till the Peace Conference met ; earlier contacts than that are much. to be desired, and it is further encouraging that on funda- mentals London, Washington, Moscow and Chungking have revealed considerable similarity of view. Considered British opinion was voiced by Mr.. Eden in his speech winding up the debate on foreign affairs last week. The Foreign Secretary followed Mr. Churchill's wise lead in refusing to define too closely an organisa- tion which must grow out of experience and whose shape depends on other countries as well as our own. Since its object will be to prevent aggression, it must have adequate power, and for that reason it must be constructed on and around the four most powerful nations—Britain, America, Russia and China. It should be flexible and not rigid, growing by practice ; and it should strive for economic as well as for political collaboration. In other words, it is not proposed to devise a perfect paper constitution at the outset, but to begin with the effective machinery that we already possess— namely, that of four Powers, aided by lesser Powers, who are effectively collaborating for the waging of war and hammering out together the procedure of liberation. If it should be objected that this is giving undue prominence to four nations, the answer that realists must make is that these are bound to take the lead at this juncture in the world's history ; if the process is to be evolutionary we must start from what effectively exists today. But both the Prime Minister and Mr. Eden have been careful to insist that these Great Powers will be providing a framework, and that within that other peace-loving nations will perform their essential functions. Just and- effective collaboration between the Great and the Lesser Powers in the maintenance of peace is perfectly practicable, and it should be regarded as fundamental.
