402 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

perils are dispersed what more fundamental measures can be
taken in the future?

Wars sometimes occur because Governments deliberately plan
them. More frequently the reason is that nations wish to change
frontiers or Treaties, and see no way to do so save by war.
"War", it is said, "settles nothing"; but it does at least produce
a new situation, ancl those who chafe at their present circum-
stances may think it worth the risk. The Treaty of Versailles
produced the League, but it also imposed outrageous injustices
on Germany. Disarmament was declared an admirable thing;
but only Germany was to practise it. Colonial possessions were
to be a sacred trust, not a source of profit; but only the victors
were to have them. A future generation of Germans was to be
burdened with Reparation payments in which there was neither
sens^ nor justice. Internationalised navigation of rivers and
demilitarisation of frontiers were justifiable limitations on
Sovereignty; but only Germany was to endure them. To-day
the League Powers face an armed and angry Germany.

To say this is not to express approval of the present German
Government. Men do not become wiser or nobler by suffering
injustice; nor does it improve the situation to allow them to
inflict injustice on others. The remedy is to substitute justice for
injustice, and to provide a peaceable method of changing Treaties
which have proved unjust or unworkable. Article 19 of the
League Covenant empowers the Assembly to handle this problem,
but so far it has been a dead -letter. Any attempt to revive the
League must include plans for-the use of this Article.

There are, then, two objectives which must be pursued at the
same time. One is Collective Security, the maintenance of the
Rule of Law. Whatever justifications are found for the aggressions
of the Powers outside the League, it remains true that if the
method of aggression is permitted, no one is safe. The distribution
of wealth in many countries provides strong reasons for discontent;
but Governments do not therefore abandon the task of maintain-
ing order in the hope that a better distribution will result if