Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 202
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we forget great orators like Paderewski and Viviani and Motta.
Certainly the national delegates who came to Geneva were a re-
markable set of men. But among them all, Nansen stood out
unique as the embodiment of international truth and justice.
During those early years, a very large proportion of the League
work was non-contentious and of this, Nansen took his full share.
Much of it had just that mixture of humanity and adventure
which most appealed to his imagination. It is well-known that the
keenest sportsmen, the men who find most pleasure in hunting and
killing game, are yet the warmest lovers and protectors of dome-
stic animals. So Nansen, who thought nothing of risking his life
in the cause of science and even of adventure, was passionately
anxious to alleviate the hardships and dangers which afflicted
prisoners of war, or refugees, or slaves. It was in these matters
that his most triumphant achievements lay. True, whenever a
controversy between the nations was brought to Geneva, Nansen
could be relied on to throw all his weight on the side of peace
and equity without bothering too much who was against him. I
well remember, on some such occasion, saying to him (I was then
the representative of South Africa): — “If we press our point we
may have to oppose both France and England.” “Of course,” he
said. Why not? It was that serene courage which made him such
a heartening ally. In the controversy with Italy over her attempt
to annex Corfu, it was Nansen who rallied the smaller Powers
to the defence of the principle of Collective Security. People
forget the importance of the issue then raised. The facts were
simple enough. Some Italian officers engaged in the delimitation
of the frontier between Albania and Greece, were set upon and
killed. No evidence was produced as to who were the assassins.
But the crime undoubtedly occurred on the Greek side of the
border. Italy rightly demanded reparation and, to enforce her
demand, seized on the island of Corfu, killing or overpowering
the small Greek garrison if such it could be called. Here was a
clear case of aggression. The Assembly happened to be in session
at the time and the Greek representative was instructed to bring
the matter before the League. He did so, saying that he did not
claim under Article 16. that there had been a “resort to war” by
Italy; but rather that events had shewn that there was a dispute
between Greece and Italy likely to lead to a rupture within the
meaning of Article 15. Accordingly, he asked for the mediation
of the Council, and several meetings of that body took place. The