The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1928. THE PEACE PACT.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1928. THE PEACE PACT.

The renunciation of war embodied in tho peace pact now signed and sealed, creates a new status in the world. The Great "War when at its height was supposed, to he a war to end war, but ten yearsi nearly have gone bv since that war ended, and wars and rumours of wars hare been disturbing the world ever since. Europe, in particular, has boon something of an armed camp, and there has been at times much rattling of sabres. President Wilson, on his memorable mission to tho United States went with the idea of securing a great Peace, hut there was a remarkable development when the United States did not ratify the proposals for which Mr Wilson was responsible. Another American in the person of Mr Kellogg has gone to Europe to create a new atmosphere, and it remains to he seen whether the United States will ratify his negotiations. Of course there have lieeti explanations why President Wilson failed to> secure the ratification of the peace pact lie was chiefly responsible for. It is said that the difficulty felt in the United States in tho case of the President Wilson was that the League of Nations was regarded differently by those who had signed the Covenant. One party looked upon the League ns being mainly for tho purpose of giving permanence to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, since the boundaries of the different States as fixed by that treaty were to be secured by the Covenant The other party regarded the League ns being mainly a society for promoting co-operation amongst the nations and the peaceful settlement of any disputes that might arise. America bad considerable sympathy with the latter, hut regarded the former as likely to involve the. United States in European difficulties. The present pact is free from any connection with the Peace Treaty, and aims at promoting goodwill amongst the nations and the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. The pact recognises the right of every nation to defend itself if attacked, also obligations entered into under the Covenant of the League, and such special instruments a.s the Treaty of Locarno and some other treaties already in force. It is not an absolute renunciation of war under any circumstances, hut it is an agreement amongst the signatory Powers to seek hv every means available the pacific settlement of disputes. There was a. good deal of comment at the reservations Great Britain thought it wise to add to the general consent to the proposals, but it was mse to make the declaration clear and plain at the outset, and Sir Austen Chamberlain was frankness itself in the very clear statement he made on the position. It is regrettable that the state of his health prevented his presence at the final scene of the great enactment, but at least he has the knowledge of being one of the principal actors in working up to the final curtain, and that all through the ten years of troubled peace he lias done splendid work in assisting to keep the pence of Europe, and o-raduallv bringing about a better feeling and spirit among the chief recalcitrant nations. A better understanding between France and Germany was highly essential for the pence and prosperity of Europe, and Sir Austen worked untiringly to that end. The ceremonial marking the signing of the peace pact was worthy the occasion. "Rightly it was made truly memorable. and may the import of it all lie all that the signatories wish and imply by their acceptance of the terms a,nd conditions of this new.world undertaking, which will create a now status among nations and bring about a condition of trust and reliance, the* very

feeling of which should foster a better worl (1 understa ml i ng.