The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBRER 5, 1925. THE BIG PEACE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBRER 5, 1925. THE BIG PEACE

(ill-: notable meeting in London this week whereat the Locarno Treaty v.as signed, seaied and delivered in the presem e ol a distinguished assembly ol international representatives, vein a long wav to confirm the optimism of those who lielieie (hat. the agreement "ill make lor a linn European joinc. It. is in the northern portion of the Old World wlure nations are mostly .it variance, and if a pint is made and respected, as now promises, there should l.e a period of hig peace assured. The whole atmosphere of the London assenthly seemed to give an assurance as to the permanence of the peace at last in sight. The old enemies ol long standing met face to face, and spoke eloquently to each other, and there is no occasion to doubt their

sincerity. Each and all made a gesture which pointed to a determined effort to maintain pence. It the professions mean all that the words implied, then the nation which seeks to break the big peace will be in for a bad time. It is perhaps not surprising 'that the nations should have tired of war, and the preparations for war. to such an extent that there is a desire universally to call for peace. The financial drain for standing armies marshalled throughout Europe upsets the whole economic situation. There is no remedy to meet the position without a material curtailment of the forces, and this the big peace will permit of. Universal disarmament is not likely, for it is not possible. A certain amount of protection is quite necessary, and the world is not going to swing from one extreme to the other in a mo-

incut. 1 tut. tlio lug peace makes possible a lessening of armaments, and the relief of the {ri'ont hiirden will help greatly in the fmaneial re overy. Whether in the days to eome when poverty is supplanted by opulence, the some meekness will prevail, remains to he seen : hut just now the outlook for a big peaee is most promising, and in the distant future, when changes may be possible in the natural cycle of events, that time may be left to care for itself. The spirit of goodwill and conciliation seemed to l>e abroad at the signing of the Treaty in London. There, old rancour was dropped, and suspicions put aside. These may not be dead, and because that is so. armaments will still be a necessity. But all the world now is fully alive to the horrors of modern warfare, and -ure’\ no nation will ever again set- out lightly on so great an adventure avabthe judgment and opinion of those associated nations, combined to help each other morally and physically. A new ideal may grow out of the big peace which would render a great step towards disarmament possible. \ud the world having been educated a- to wbat war means, and realising wbal will come of a universal peace. Europe may recreate itself and enjoy a fresh standard of life. Kuro|>e has been described as the nerve centre of the planet, and European events stabilised, means much to the world at large. If. from the big peace there grows a new vision, then cell should Ice right. The new world desires disarmament and peaee. and with Europe and America, at one. a great influence will persuade the Eastern nations to rest lid y the international situation and march in line along rhe way the big peace leads. It is a great opportunity for the recreation of the world spirit and we may yet realise that the flreat War was fought really to end war.