COLLECTIVE SECURITY
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Although, in your issue of August 7th, Mr. S. Tetley asks : " What is the meaning of the term Collective Security' " is not the question which exercises us all : What security, if any, peoples in Europe, who wish to live in peace within their own borders, may depend upOn ? I suggest that the term Collective Security means to most of us': " Security for each by the action of all," such action being either : (1) taken by the national forces of League members and representing the " hue and cry 7 in pursuit of .a male- factor, reminiscent of an early stage of social development ; or (2) taken by international police acting in support of 12w and order between nations. It may be noted in passing that under the former we might have security without jaistice-; under the latter the existence of order would remove the main difficulties in the path of justice and equity.
One may add that if collective action is to succeed the regions of operation must not be too small. As your correspondent in Prague argues in the same issue, war in middle or eastern Europe would surely spread to Western Europe and con- versely. It seems clear, therefore, that the minimum to which our definition may be reduced is: " Security for each European nation by the action of (nearly) all European
nations." .
The question of reform of the League Covenant is to be discussed in Geneva during the September Assembly, and I suggest that it is of the first importance that the British Government should know that public opinion in this country calls for a League of Nations which may have the authority to enable it effectively and peacefully to adjust all disputes between nations, in Europe at least, and the armed support necessary to enable it to guarantee the security of all its States Members, again taking Europe as the minimum,
against acts of aggression. If, alternatively, the League of Nations is to be reduced to a mere talking shop, we return to a system of power politics and jungle law.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Stanton, Headley Down, Bordon, Hants. HUGH LEADER..
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