PEACE PACTS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1925, Page 3

PEACE PACTS

LATEST GABLE NEWS

["The Times” Service. j BRITAIN'S NEW AIM. LONDON', March 8. “Tlic Morning Rost” in a leading article entitkrfl ‘‘The Pact and tile Dominions,'’ clouies that Britain is joining in ti pact. ‘“This,” it says, “would he taking a. leap in the dark, The British diplomats are not involving the country in dangerous commitments. But arc seeking to renew the settlement of Europe, which the Allied victory made possible. It is impossible to treat Europe like a derelict island in the Pacific. If the European countries have a feeling that all are in the melting pot again, then the policy of financial recuperation will be thrown aside. Surely, if the Germans see the advantage of stability, the Allies will not miss the chance of reaching firmer ground. .Mr Chamberlain is seeking not an advantage, but a settlement not an upheaval, hut co-operation. Me is fighting for the status cpio. We trust, therefore, that the Dominions will look at. this new orientation of British diplomney ns a conserving and precautionary measure to protect (lie Empire from such holts from the blue as the unfortunate affair at Chnnnk. It is an attempt to give to Imperial diplomacy that eonfinuitv which is (lie prelude to unity of aim. It is nonsense to accuse Air Chamberlain of thinking too much of Poland or too little of the Empire. Mr Chamberlain knows well that a spark which starts the Balkans may involve the whole fabric of the Empire which can never he safe if Europe is restless. Moreover, grave ns are the problems in Europe, they pale into insignificance compared with the mighty racial issues which are threatening domestic peace in more than one British dominion. The Geneva Proctocol is dead. It collapsed, primarily, because the dominions would have nothing to do with it. I heir decision was wise, because the Protocol mortgaged British power for causes with which the British Empire might haver had nothing in common; hut the proposed European pact is limited and definite. Tt, therefore, deserves unprejudiced onsidcratioii by the dominions. We ask our kith and kin overseas to consider the grave issues raised by Mr Chamberlain, not in any narrow, sectarian spirit, but in the light of the supreme interests of the Empire, which can only he secured 1.-y a man whose vision can span flic seas/’

THE LEAGUE COUNCIL. GENEVA, aMrcli 9. A private session of the Council, presided over by Mr Austen Chamberlain lasted an hour. The question of loans, advances to and investment of private capital in the mandated territories was touched on and it was proposed to refer the answer of the mandatory powers to the Mandates Commission meeting nt Geneva in June. But the final decision will not he taken pending the arrival, of the Belgian and Swedish members of the Council.