THE PEACE PACT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1928, Page 3

THE PEACE PACT

M. BRIAND’S SPEECH. (British Official Wireless). (Received this day at 11 0 a.m ‘ RUGBY, August 27. M. Briaiid prefaced the historic Part ceremony with a brief speech. Me said lie was terribly conscious that silence would best befit such a solemn occasion but lie felt it would he his duty to acknowledge how much his country appreciated that Paris had been chosen ns the scene for the signature of the peace Pact.

He made reference to Sir Austen Chamberlain: “All of us are thinking of Sir Austen Chamberlain, who is absent to-day, and wo can easily imagine the feelings he would have at the sight of this great re-union for peace. AVliat greater lesson could bo offered to the civilised world, continued M. Ilriand, than that the assembly in which for the signing of the Pact against war. Germany, of her own free will, took a part on a level with her former adversaries. Hr Stresoinann (Germany’s Foreign .Minister) had laboured for three years for the general principles of peace, which were here involved.

The League of Nations had already sought to make progress in the same direction of peace, but it was the presence of the United States of America which rendered this gathering so porientious. For the first time in the history of the world, war was being renounced unreservedly as an instrument of national policy, that was in its most specific .and dreaded form selfish and wilful war.

In future that country which dared to break the undertaking to which its signature had been given, would incur the unconditional condemnation of all the signatories of the Pact. The Pact was a direct blow to the menace of war.

“Henceforth,” added M. Briand, “ we have a sacred doty to do all that can and must he done so that hope will not lie disappointed. Peace is proclaimed, but it still remains necessary to organise it in the face of difficulties. That is to bo the work of to-morrow.”

SENATE’S POSSIBLE ACTION. (Received this day at 11.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 27. The United States Senate’s rejection of the Anti-War Treaty, is regarded as a possibility among the many observers and some officials here to-day, that European diplomatic manoeuvres characterised in certain quarters as “intrigue,” particularly the reported secret Anglo-French naval agreement, may defeat the purpose of the treaty it was said and perhaps lead to the Senate rejection. It is believed that the French interpretation of the treaty as guaranteeing a status quo in the present European political alignment, will prove obstacle to the ratification of France’s interpretation. In effect it holds that the Anti-War Pact constitutes a definite approval, among other things, of the Versailles Treaty, which the United States Senate rejected. Authorities for the Senate will kill the Kellogg treaty, if that body takes the above view of France’s interpretation. More pertinent, however, is the reported secret naval agreement. According to authorities, Kellogg and other officials view the Anti-War Treaty as sincere and a valuable effort to build world pence psychology. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27. It is reported tile Anglo-French agreement is having an opposite effect and is likely to nullify the intended educational purpose of the Kellogg Pact. Official believe if the reports concerning the naval agreement arc true, that the administration feels that Britain and France have been at least indiscreet in entering upon an ostensibly warlike programme, when they were preparing to subscribe to tho treaty renouncing war. If the reports any false, the authorities here are told that Paris ami Loudon should immediately make this clear, so that world opinion may not be led to believe that two of the leading powers taro actively planning for war secretly, while renouncing war publicly.

A SOLEMN - SCENE. PARIS, Aug. 27. I am fully conscious that silence best befits such a solemn occasion. Thus I prefer that each statesman should simply arise and affix his signature to tho greatest collective deed born of peace, said fit. Briand, pre- \ facing his impressive speech preceding the signing of the Kellogg Pact. In the gilded clock room of the Quai D’Orsay, the scene was most picturesque and was heightened by the strikng colours of the ushers in eighteenth century costumes, 'nine coats, silver epaulettes, red satin breeches ami white stockings. These amid the crimson and gold saloon, with red plus chairs around a horseshoe table were thrown into dazzling relief by the glare of white cinematograph lamps.

Crowds gathered early at one o’clock on a perfect summer’s day along the Seine quaysides, because the Prefect forbade assembling near the building. The throng was soon so dense that trains suspended. Kellogg ami his wife glowing from their reception, the former bareheaded was bowing for four minutes in acknowledgement of the people’s plan tits. Though the central ligtire of the ceremony, M. Brinml, dozed peacefully till summoned to the Ambassadors saloon, from which he led a stately procession to the horseshoe table 11 the hollow of which reposed a Louis Phillips rosewood table hearing copies of the Pact. On Briand’s right sat Stresemaim, Hymans, Mnnzoni, Uclula, Zaleski, and Benes, and on the left Kellogg, Cusheiulun, MncKenzie King, Parr. Smuts and Cosgrave.

SCENE AT THE SIGNING. Australian Press Assn.—United Service (Received this dav at 12.25 D.m.) PARIS, August 28. The proceedings were most punctual. M. Briand rose at 3.20 and read his speech. Photographers noisily clambered into chairs to snapshot him, and thus shut off the view of journalists, whose protests added to the din, momentarily drowning AI. Ilrianil’s voice. Unlike the Locarno ceremony, there was only one speech, M. Briaml’s, delivered to tho accompaniment of purring cinemas and a movietone camera recording both speech and motion.

Three fierce flood lights word pouring upon the delegates and particularly dis stressed M. Briand and Dr. fetresemanti, the latter constantly mopping his head. Otherwise there was no sound till the finish when there was a burst of cheering in recognition of one of the most effective, dignified speeches of M. Briand’s career. The speech lasted seventeen minutes, whercaftei the translation into English and then tho bi-lingual reading of the pact’s two main articles went on till 3.45. In alphabetical order the delegates approaching the table, signed with Mi Kellogg’s gold pen,' both the French and English versions on Japanese vellum. This occupied only-eight minutes and the ceremony terminated without a fuss, ns it begun. Millions of wireless listeners all over Europe were rather surprised to lieai the announcer’s formal: “The cere-

mony is now over. Whatever Dr Stresemann’s earlier feelings, lie was most delighted at the

continuous cheers from the moment of walking to the rosewood table to sign and returning.

.Mr Kellogg, who was next, had difficulty in making the pen write.

Then there was a storm of cheers as -M. Briaiul signed. .After him came Lord Cushendun, then the Dominion representatives. When the signing was over, the tenseness was relaxed, delegates mutually congratulating each other before hurrying to M. Brinnd’s official bouse to take ten. Not the least interesting of the day’s preliminaries was Dr Stresemann’s eighty minutes interview with M. Poincare, after which both wore like oysters. Everyone surmises the ground has been prepared for the re-opening of negotiations for the evacuation of the second Rhineland zone and the readjustment of the Dawes payments. Dr Strcseinann emerged weary-look-ing, but posed for many photographs into which M. Poincare declined to bo drawn. Herr Strcseinann meets Mueller at liadenhaden on Saturday to report the interview for Mueller’s guidance at Geneva, but the general impression is, there will be a long range ol conversations between Willielmstras.se and the Quai d’Orsay instead of over Geneva’s teacups.

PRESS COMMENTS. BERLIN, August 27. The German press has not allowed the Pact ceremony to pass without exploiting her national grievances. “ Achtuhrblatt ” published a cartoon of Mars telephoning to Kellogg asking: “ Do you really think from now on 1 shall he aide to live on the unemployment dole ? ”

'l'lie “ All Germaine Zeitung ” urges that disarmament should Hollow the outlawing oi war, while the outlawing of war should he followed by the outlawing of the spirit of Versailles. Newspapers sympathetically display the Soviet, demanding the convening of tho League Disarmament Commission. It is noteworthy that the editorial comment on the ceremony does not refer to tho historical significance of the pact.