Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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The League of Nations m HE League of Nations is one of the most important movements in the world to-day. It is made up of a society of repre- sentatives from the different nations for the prevention of war and for finding some peaceful me- thod of settling international disputes. After the disastrous effects of the Great War, something had to be done for the prevention of another such war in the future. At the meeting of the Peace Conference in Paris, President Wilson suggested the forming of a League of Na- tions. At Versailles, at the signing of the peace treaty, thirty-two nations sign- ed the Covenant known as the League of Nations. They agreed among other things to establish at The Hague, a permanent court, with great judges, from many dif- ferent countries, to fudge fairly any dis- putes which might arise between the na- tions. Another very important promise made by the countries was that they .would re- gister at Geneva all treaties with one an- other and not have any secret treaties. This removes a great cause of distrust be- tween nations. In addition to this another important article of the Covenant deals with the treatment of the colonies taken away from Germany by the Allies. Each colony was placed under the care or man- date of some country, who must under- take to rule the colony for the good of the people living there, and not for gain. Each year the governing country has to submit to the League a report of how it is caring for its colony. No slavery or military training is allowed. Besides this, it has been agreed by the members of the League to aim to secure fair and humane conditions of labor for men, women and children in the various countries where they carry on trade. Another department of the League is that of the Health Committee, .whose business is to enquire into the causes and cures of certain diseases. It is arranging for doctors to travel to all parts of the world to study conditions in the various lands, with the purpose of collecting information concerning dis- eases and of deciding upon the best way to prevent the spreading of such epi- demics as typhus fever, plague, influenza, etc. The League also has taken steps to control the opium traffic in different parts of the world. After the Great War, Europe and parts of Asia were in a terrible state. Our own prisoners were returned home, but from the European countries a great many men were in camps in Siberia. Now from these camps, though no longer pri- son camps, the men had no way of get- ting home. They were living under the most dreadful conditions, .without pro- per clothing, food or medical attention. Hundreds died from infectious diseases, cold and starvation. This state of af- fairs was brought to the notice of the League. The great Norwegian Arctic explorer, Dr. Nansen, was asked to undertake the rehabilitation of the re- fugees. 23

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22 The Branksome Slogan I beg your pardon, Miss — er, but I wondered if you lost a handkerchief like this- — I — He waited, scarcely daring to breathe. Then he heard her speaking in her nasal tones — Why, no, Mr. Andrews — what an extraordinary question — I never use lace handkerchiefs. ' Ah-h! He was saved! With a sigh of relief he replaced the handkerchief and started to eat an appetizing chicken salad — it was very good. Part III. Two days later Robin found himself balancing a teacup in one hand and a small cake in the other, at the same time making polite conversation with the Duchess of something or other. He breathed heavily — he loathed garden fetes. Oh, there you are, Bobbie — a silv- ery voice sang out — We want you to come and help in the relay races — they ' re beginning now. You will have to let him go. Duchess, dear. Whew! What a relief! Robin hur- ried across the lawn and was greeted with shouts of laughter from the gay group gathered about the drinks booth. Atta boy, Andy! Doing his stuff like a gentleman. Come on and roll eggs with your nose — it ' s great fun! Robin was prope lled towards the race- tracks — but — Robin, wait a minute — I want to in- troduce — Jane, dear, this is Mr. Robin Andrews — Miss Jane Dawson. The world spun dizzily about poor Robin — blue eyes — fair curly hair — this was more like it Gosh — she ' s a ripper! This must be the right one! Won ' t you come and have a lemon- ade? he said coaxingly. No one could resist Robin when he looked like that; certainly this girl couldn ' t. O ' oh — I ' d love to — Mithter An- dre wths — its tho hot — ithn ' t it? Robins ' heart sank at least two feet. The baby-doll type — he knew them — the clinging vine — this was worse than the last — but — oh, well — I wonder if you lost a little handker- chief like this last week? I picked it up and it had ' Jane ' on it — I thought — Ithn ' t it thweet! No-o-o— I didn ' t loothe it — Don ' t you juth love lathe hankies? Yes, said Robin. Part IV. Next week — at night — the moon — sound of jazz, throbbing through the garden — cigarette smoke — balloons — and Robin. The dance was nearly over — but for Robin it was just going to begin. His hostess was speaking — Why, Robin, I don ' t believe you met Jane, did you? Jane, my dear — Mr. Robin Andrews — Miss Jane Webster. The girl looked up at him and smiled. What a smile! Her eyes .were a dark mysterious blue and her hair was tawny with golden lights in it — a faint smell of orange blossom reached his nostrils. Rob- in ' s heart beat faster and faster. Jane! The Jane! Oh — May I have this dance? he asked huskily. They sat out in the garden on a rackety bench. The handkerchief was produced. Why, where did you find that? ask- ed the girl. Her voice was low and thrilling. Is it yours? Robin questioned rap- turously. Why, yes — I lost it last week — in London, I think. Then you are the right one, he whispered. I ' ve been looking for you every- where, M. BOYD, III. A.

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24 The Branksome Slogan Appeals were made to all the nations for help. Dr. Nansen persuaded the dif- ferent countries to let the men pass through their lands; he chartered ships and arranged for special trains. In con- nection with this, the work of Dr. Nan- sen was very wonderful. He acted as High Commissioner for the League in the help given, settling and finding work for about a million Russians, who fled from their country at the time of the revolu- tion. Dr. Nansen, helped by Americans, has also worked to secure the settlement of Greek refugees .who fled to Asia Minor during their struggle with the Turks, in new homes in Greece. Among other activities of the League might be mentioned the reduction and limitation of armaments, the securing of freedom of transit for commerce of all states in the League, the government of the Saar valley and the free city of Dan- zig, and the protection of racial and re- ligious minorities in a number of Euro- pean countries. Switzerland was chosen as the meeting place of the League because of its neutral- ity during the Great War. The city of Geneva, so closely connected with the Reformation in the sixteenth century, be- came the home of the League. The main organs of the League are: The Assembly, consisting of three dele- gates from each of the states represented, which meets annually in September; the Council, consisting of one delegate from each of the fourteen diff ' erent states, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan being permanently represented. The other nine states arc elected from time to time by the Assembly. This body meets three or four times a year. Besides these, there is the Secretariat, the international civil service by which the League is served, and the International Labor Organization. You have heard how the League came into being, .what it stands for and its hopes for the future. It can only con- tinue to succeed in its aims and ideas if everyone takes an interest in what it is trying to do. It can only act in the right manner if the spirit of the people is behind it. HENRIETTA OWEN, III. B.