The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1925 MORE ABOUT LUCARNO.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1925 MORE ABOUT LUCARNO.

Tjik London correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times" ha.s an interesting wav of hitting off current events. ami Ik> handles all about tin* Locarno Treaty with much that i.s new and interesting, and at 11 u* sum l lime describes his story graphically. In dealing with the great treaty ho says that till’ Locarno Peace Pact is a unique achievement in the recorded annals of mankind. If there is any honesty or ('race in poor human nature it launches the world on a new and hotter epoch. The history of the j ast is a history <.f the world's unrest—an ennui of futile warfare between the sons of men. Xnw for the first time that dark period seems to he shut off from ns by a strong door, and we enter a war-tight department of pledged peace. U“t ns briefly appraise the real gist of the great Pact. It means, in plain black and white, that all the most powerful Western nations. as

well as the smaller States, hind themselves solemnly to a peace alliance. Frame, Germany. and Belgium mutually agree to respect each other's existing frontiers, and not to make war on each other. Great Britain and Italy underwrite this contract, and declare that, if any or either of the throe peace signatories breaks the compact and embarks on aggressive war, they on their part will stand in serried strength shoulder to shoulder on the other side. Thus we have an overpoworingly formidable Triple Alliance it France breaks the ponce, and a Quadruple -Alliance if Germany does so, against the “next war" that seemed to hover so ominously in the Western sky. This peace-pact is reinforced and triple-bound by arbitration treatiesties lie tween the Powers concerned for the settlement of all dispnt.es. whether judicial or political. This is the first time since the dawn of history that nations have accepted the principle of arbitration for political quarrel. The plan is that juridical questions are to l e referred absolutely and unconditionally to an arbitrator. Political disputes will lie submitted to a Conciliation Committee. If the latter fails to settle the matter, it will then he referred to the Council of the League of Nations, on which now the German Republic will he represented. It would h« idle to enquire where-

fore of a London Press campaign happily confined to the baser journals, against this great palladium of peace. Suffice it to say that Great Britain is emphatically not pledged to take sides ill a future war the occurrence of which is beyond our control. Before Italy or Britain is called upon to ait in any military sen-e. the league of Nations, on which both are represented. must decide whether the occasion for such action arises. And even then, the fateful decision rests still, and ever, with London and Borne. Moreover, what hope have we, or has anybody (with the tragic history of 1014 still fresh in memory), of remaining aloof from another European cataclysm of war! It is the sillier policy to let tilings drift in the old way. and take sides empirically when the emer-

gency is sprung upon us like l a mine, or to join in this solemn pledge of united action against any future aggressor of the peace ? Sensible people welcome the Locarno Peace Pact with devout hearts. There has been nothing of such tremendous symbolism to mankind since the eyes of Father N'oali beheld the green olive branch amid the universal desolation of the flood. To most of us. it looks like a real answer to our ancient Litanv

•‘Give peace in our time, O l-ord”! Even the stupendous episode of Locarno has not been entirely devoid of its brightening comedy. They say that the issue bung liazardly in the balance, when Mrs Austen Chamberlain had tlie happy inspiration of promising a boating excursion on Lake Maggiore to celebrate her birthday. Tims M. Briand and Herr Strcsomnnn the I’oilu and the Boselie—with Mr and Airs ('hnmhcrluiit. found themselves alloat under the most alluring, natural conditions, under a serene Italian sk.v. in a very small boat. Tt

gave iu-t the necessary intimate human touch that brought France and Germany into genuine harmony. The story is that oil landing. Mr Chamherlain whispered to liis wife that lie would buy her the handsomest new frock to lie found in Paris on their nay bone. Some of the ladies think she deserved it. Not only for her ta ti n! like • ■ vi■ 11 r.~i->n. but for meekly .submitting to being ki-sed on both beck- by M. Briand in full view of the delighted Parisian crowd and try ing to look as though she liked il !