LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1922, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

AURTR.ALTAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. t LORD CECIL’S SPEECH. GENEVA, Sept 26. Lord-Cecil in a two hours speech, in presenting the Disarmament report, urged all- Governments to reduce armaments. - He predicted a terrible catastroph for States failing to inspire pacific principles. Ho thought power should he given to the League to create an international air force. Aviation to-day was one- hundred percent. superior to the old forces. Its possibilities grew wider daily. The League with a sufficient air force coubl restore peace should any nation break it.

Lord Cecil’s speech was most impressive. He said the League’s statistics showed that only a fraction 'of the men required to maintain internal order in the various States, whereas .millions sterling, were required to resist aggression. “This is the price of tlio international suspicion,” lie said. “This is the great obstacle to disarmament, which thes resolutions seek to remove, by substituting a general reduction of* armaments and a mutual guarantee of safety.” Signor Seialoja (Italy) saul the chief value of the proposals was that they did not attempt too much. M Jon venal (France) urged that tlie resolutions were practicable, and advocated beginning with limited guarantees, because a general guarantee might he indefinitely delayed. Enron Hayaslii pledged Japan s support for the proposals Mr Fisher spoke similarly on behalf of Britain and said that in carrying out the League’s proposals, Britain would be influenced by the number of States participating the reductions and guarantees. Hc hope to see the Washington Treaty extended to the non-signatory Rowers within a. year,