NEAR EAST CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1922, Page 3

NEAR EAST CRISIS.

INTERESTING SURVEY. WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Brigadier-General (L S. Richardson was the guest of honour at a Wellington Rotary Club function held at the Y.M.C.A. last night. Chief Rotarian •A. I<\ .Roberts presided over a large attendalie', and a number ol musical items were finely rendered by members of the Club and guests. General Richardson, who spoke on “Tlie Crisis in the Near East.” bis lecture being' illustrated by a large number of lantern slides said lie luid not come there to give them a solution of the Near East problem. It would he presumption on bis |ait to attempt to do so. He did, however, feel it his duty to pass on any knowledge he possessed on the question' to interest them as Rotarimis and as citizens of New Zealand in what was for the moment not only an important Empire question, but a world-wide question, and one which, as re: cut events showed, was iuli ol possibilities lor good or evil. ONE GREAT NATION. Although in New Zealand we were deeply otigiossed in our local "flairs, and were endeavouring to juomotc tLc interests of this beautiful country, we must always bear in mind that we were a component part of a great nation, ! and that our existence and our progress to the goal we Imped this country to attain -good Rotarimis weie living to reach dependent upon the continued strength, integrity and unity «,• the B»ih'*h Umpire. (Applause-). We in this Dominion,, could not reach cronl if we stood alone. For this reason, whether in the Near, Middle, or Far East, or in whatever part of the world the Mother Country might ~t any future time be involved in difficulties, it was the duty of this conn-

try to give its iuoiri 11 “ • its physical support, to aid the British in main taming the 1 dice of the world. disarmament impossible. Recent c\c”ts had shown that the peace of the world could not vet be maintained without the existence of armies and navies; but that we could r( .|y upon British statesmen and soldiers. both at Home ami in this Dominion. doing their utmost to settle disputes by other means than h ead she'd. The policy of the British Empire was not one of aggression. We should all realise this. Under our democratic system of government. no statesmen would he retained in l»>"er w ho wished for expansion by aggression. Unfortunately, however, human nature was still influenced by selfishness. greed, jealousy, ambition, and the desire for aggrandisement on the part of individuals as well as of nations: and these weaknesses had played a great part for centuries Jiast ill the Balkans. Hut. in the recent crisis and present negotiations ior a permanent settlement, he had laded to discover that Britain had been actuated by any of these motives. On the contrary, her statesmen hail displayed unselfishness and strict adherence to international treaties. TREATY OF SEVRES. The unfortunate Treaty of Sevres, which inflicted a certain amount of sacrifice and punishment on Turkey Lu the part slio played in the war was the work of the Allies. Great Britain, as one of the signatory Powers, tried to carry out her part; but her Allies deserted her. and Britain alone stood firm. The result of her action would go down,to history; and the world today had reason to he thankful to Britain for having saved it from another and perhaps more awful war. the limits of which it was impossible to eon-

reive. ! That we are at peace to-day was due \to the unselfish attitude of tlie Bri- ! tisli—to their firm stand in the inter- ! ests of peace, to the tact of General ; Ilarington and his soldiers, and to tlie ' existence of the British Army and Navy. 1 MUST PREPARE FOR DEFENCE, j This lesson should he thoroughly learned by those who believed that, in spite of the weaknesses of human naj tore and the conflict of interests between nations, we could solve all our i difficulties by the League of Nations. . Until every nation of the world had , joined the League and enmjiletely dis-

; aimed itself, we must, unfortunately. : continue to prepare ourselves to defend ! our country: and New Zealand in com- 1 jiion with all other parts of the Em- , pi re must lie prepared to take its share ,of the burden of Empire defence. Tt. was'for the Kotarians, and for the citizens of Now Zealand as a whole, to see ; to it that this Dominion was always ' I |>repared to do it- share. (Loud ap- . plnuse). • I On the motion of the chairman a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded General Richardson for his address. i