THE PEACE PACT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1928, Page 2

THE PEACE PACT

PRESS COMMENT. Australian Press Assn.—United Service LONDON, Aug. 27. The “Daily Herald” alone of tlie newspapers is most sceptical as to the Kellogg Pact and describes it as “a peace pact by war mongers,” and as being full of serious loopholes.

LONDON, Aug. 27. Most of the newspapers devote their first editorials to the Peace Pact. The editorial of “The Times.” has obviously been carefully and deliberately phrased for American consumption. It says; “The terms of the Pact are vague and nebulous, but if the price of signing appears to be a somewhat sceptical commitment to a nebulous ideal, this may he most hopefully undertaken if it means that the great, wealthy, and rapidly-rising American power, lying between a straining Europe and an East in turmoil, will really lend a band to render war more difficult. America lias rejected the League of Nations. A second failure on file United States part could with difficulty he borne. This is happily not anticipated. The new treaty will mean much or little to the extent that it has, or has not, the support of its American authors.

TH E RESERVATIONS. LONDON, Aug. 27. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The Notes which some Powers, including Britain, added to the text do not detract from new international “Credo. ’ It expresses, and will hear the same relation thereto, as a. judge’s obiterdicta to his binding judgments. PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENT. WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. At the peace pact ceremony to-day, the Hon. J. G. Coates (Prime Minister), said the treaty was not one following upon victory and vanquished. The first suggestion came from M. Briand of France, who wrote to the United States and asked that a bi-lat-eral Treaty would he entered into by France and United States. After some delay, what is known as the Kellogg note was issued, which suggested a multilateral treaty. “'Hie importance of the Treaty has been emphasised by many,” said Mr Coates “and it has been signed on behalf of the nations named. The Treaty provides that after the signing to-day it will ho open, for other nations to come in if they so desire. The Treaty is a simple declaration by all the signatories that they will use every peaceres between them.” There was, he said, one groat thing in connection with the Treaty which all must recognise, and that was power of public opinion and the wide desire that in future there should he no more wars. The declaration in the Treaty would he recognised hv all the nations as a sacred trust in the interests of civilisation. Great Britain’s policy, said the Prime Minister, had always been founded on the desire for peace. I hero was no other nation which had signed so many arbitration treaties as Britain and she had always subscribed to an orderly peaceable method for the settlement of international difficulties. A debt of gratitude was due to Mr Kellogg and the United States Government in connection with the signing of the Treaty. Ihe treaty had been referred to as a “gentleman’s agreement.” What more powerful instrument could there he than a gentleman's agreement? It was for public opinion to see .that everything possible was done to maintain that agreement. It was unnecessary for him to refer to the tragedy of, some years ago., lie hoped that lie would always he found subscribing to treaties which would make for peace, not only in the Pacific, hut throughout the world. (Applause).

PEACH PACT SIGNED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON. Aug. 27

The Paris Peace Pact was signed at the French 'Foreign Oflice. Germany was the first signatory, Britain and Dominions collectively fifth. The entire signing occupied four minutes. “You have the moral authority of the world behind you in this Pact,” was the keynote of M. liriand’s welcoming speech to Mr Kellogg and othc-r signatories. The Pact was inspired by the nations deep yearnings towards peace. Could there be offered to the civilised world a greater hope than Germany, of her own tree will signing such a document, with some of, her former adversaries. Further, for the first time in half a century, France had the privilege ol welcoming the German Foreign Minister, to whom he was glad to see homage was being paid i'or his courage and force of mind in dictating this adhesion for the maintenance'of peace. The League of Nations could not but rejoice at the signing of the Pact, which was offering a kind of general reinsurance. Finally the threat of war would no longer overhang the social, political and economic life of the people.