Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 298
298 them refuses to submit to the League, or having submit- ted refuses to accept the award of the League, and prepares to make war, the other nations should all fight it. It is apparent that one nation, however strong, cannot withstand the united forces of all other nations and is bound to make a speedy submission. In that event, terms of peace should be settled between the two original parties to the dispute. The other nations should act merely as mediators and not as parties to the dispute, and should not put forward claims arising out of the conflict with the refractory nation, for that would lay the foundation of fresh disputes and dissensions. In settling the terms of peace between the parties to the dispute care should be taken that the terms are just and equitable with reference to the merits of the dispute. The media- tors should not be influenced by the fact that one of the parties had defied their authority. If a League of Nations were established on these lines, international peace would be secured at once. All mischief arises out of the fact that when a dispute arises between two nations, the other nations either play the part of amused spectators, or take sides in the dispute. Such conduct, instead of removing the cause of friction, accentuates them. The other nations should, without expressing any opinion as to the merits of the dispute, call upon the parties to submit their differences to the League of Nations, and should reserve the expression of their opinions till they have heard all the parties and completed their enquiry. They should then make their award. If either of the parties refuses to accept the award, the nations composing the League should make