THREAT TO PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 12

THREAT TO PEACE

WORLD'S DARK CLOUD

DISARMAMENT FAILURE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. In his charge ,to the Anglican Synod to-day Archbishop Averill said that the darkest cloud upon the- world's horizon was the partial failure of the Disarmament Conference. While thankful for the work done at Lausanne in respect of reparations, could it be expected that there would be much alleviation of the war debts position so long as the nations refused to come to grips with the all-important question of armament reduction? The position of America seemed to him logical and reasonable, for how could she be expected to make great sacrifice unless the other nations were prepared to meet her half-way by consenting to a real reduction in armaments and manifesting a real desire to fulfil their treaty engagements. It was useless to endeavour .to fix war guilt upon Germany for all time and perpetuate aij open sore if other nations were hindering the consolidation of peace by refusing to honour their undertakings to limit armaments. Conferences and pacts- were- of little value, he said, unless they were backed up by a right national and individual spirit. It seemed to him that the League.of Nations, in spite of all the criticism, was the world's greatest hope and deserved the backing of all men and women of goodwill.