The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Const Times. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1928. AVERTING WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Const Times. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1928. AVERTING WAR.

The suggested pact between the British and United States Governments to outlaw war is having a very friendly reception. It has been said very often that war between the two nations is “unthinkable,” but it is just as well to have that conclusion signed and sealed, and the proposed pact leads up to that finality. The latest move by the American Minister is what may be described as a step in the right direction The United States has stood aloof from the League of Nations which received such an impetus from President Wilson. On that account there were doubts a Iron t the sincerity of America in regard to averting war. Then there was the question of naval disarmament and the aggressive view America took of the British proposals when formulated at Geneva. Once again it appeared there was some doubt as to the real views of the United States. At the outset the latest proposals were looked at askance, hut now they are being weighed at their face value. It appears clear that the United States is not prepared to remain aloof from possibilities of the future, and is prepared in advance to cement international relations in such a way' that serious war l>etween great nations will be averted. So far as Great Britain is concerned, the position has been seized readily, for all along British statesmen have declared openly their friendliness with the United States and the desire to have an assured peace. The debate in Parliamlent was spontaneous, and was in keeping with the spirit shown before as to the good and ready faith with which Britain was prepared to treat her great offspring. The American proposal is to secure a series of mutual proposals between the nations, and by ertending these international ngreepients, ultimately obtain t-jie removal

of war as a possibility within the borders of the nations in pact. The movement is an enlargement of the Locarno principle which hlelped towards a settlement of the European .situation afTecting mainly Germany and France. Now, if these individual pacts can be arranged between tine- nations separately, there would in the end he possible a general pact between the high contracting parties which, would reach the object averting war. Whatever differences the nations might have, would under tho pact he settled in a way thought best, without going to war. It lias been said by Sir Oliver Lodge that “war between civilised nations, should be a. tiling of the past. We ought to have got beyond that. It settles nothing, hut produces untold misery. The victor is disappointed: the whole thing is a mistake. Armed forces you must have because there arc uncivilised parts of the world to ho kept in order. That is all right, it is not right for the resources of science to bo prostituted to destruction.” The nations should have learned their lesson from the Great AViar and have had their fill of the disasters imposed by war, whether victorious or otherwise. The effect of the pact now proposed will bo to limit the possibility of war more and more. It is a most important situation in world history. Two nations can compose their immediate difficulties more easily than a score of nations sitting round a table. Great Britain and the United Stales have everything in their power. There is no language difficulty to create fears and doubts, and the effect of an understanding being reached between two such influential, not to say omnipotent, Powers, must have, a great World effect. The movement should aid matters at the League of Nations for it will indicate what is possible by mutual agreement, where there is trust, and that, however powerful or dam inant a nation may be, it is still approachable in the right spirit to secure those sane and reasonable concessions which will assure peace under agreement thereby avoiding the arbitrament of war as tbe first and last alternative to tho settlement of international disputes.