BRITAIN AND THE .LEAGUE
_ tTo the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] • Sia,—The question whether this country has a duty to take independent action against transgressors in, international affairs is important and, if you can afford the space, I wish to return to it. One view is that, just as we are bound by covenant to collective action, so we may find ourselves bound to collective inaction. The other view is that after waiting a "reasonable time" for the League of Nations to make a pronouncement we have the right (and tho moral duty) to take independent action. I put aside any argument about the Covenant of the League, which depends upon the words used. But I appeal to the basic idea of the League, which way to promote concerted action and to discourage action by single nations. And if each nation is to judge for itself what is a reasonable time to wait and who is the transgressor, then, save for the delay of the "reasonable time," the Covenant will have no
practical effect. For my part, I cherish concerted action so much that I am willing to see those whom I deem trans- gressors escape penalties from time to time because of collective inaction. It is the lesser evil. But let us face the facts. We have no chance of getting the advantages of both systems.
Yours faithfully, F. C. GATES. Cade House, Heathfield, Sussex.
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