GENERAL DAWES

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1929, Page 3

GENERAL DAWES

IMPORTANT SPEECHES. (Per Frees Association—By FJectri, Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, June 18. General Dawes continued that hi: address concerned suggestions regaru ing a change in the nicthutl of futui\ negotiations for naval disarmament, Any agreement must,concern all tin naval Powers, and it should aim world sanction. Ho recalled that E<l mud Burke, once said that politic: ought to be adjusted, not to<humat reasonings, but to human nature, oi which reason was by no means tin greatest part. The long time wind had elapsed before a proper method o negotiating for the reparations settle ment was evolved, was because tin first method was adjusted to liuniai nature. The proper method, finally devised, was to have independent experts, whose formula was handed ovei to statesmen who could bring tin public sentiment to an acceptance o! the necessary working compromise. Similarly, the task of international re duction was one for which the success ful accomplishment required the co operation of two distinctly unrelated talents^—that of the technical expert. l and that of the statesmen. In the case of the technical expert, he said the law of human nature makes il vastly more difficult to reach an agreement in connection with the navy. Tin expert’s whole professional career impels him to think of the navy in term; of victory. He has rightly beer * taught that he'must strive, not for equal navies, but for a superior navy It 'is, however, the duty of the states man to remove attack from his State Upon him lies the duty of peacemak ing. He is mad to build up a nev order guided J>y the advice of coni-; petent and patriotic naval experts. A' the beginning the naval experts shouh define abstract quality, by arriving ai a definition for the valuation of tin fighting strength of the ships, bul when each, Government has obtained the definition yardstick from the experts, then the final compromise: should be effected by a commitee o' the statesmen of the nations. These statesmen should further draw up foi the world the terms of a final agreement upon naval reduction, wliicl should be couched in terms that are understandable by the man in the street. The document must appeal t> the composite will of the peoples of thr world, and, in order to make a proper appeal, it must lie read generally and understood. The committee from thr Governments which met at Geneva ir 1927 to agree to naval disarmament, was a mixed commission of statcsinei and naval technicians, and it was for that reason, a failure. Under tin laws of human nature, ninety per cent, of Englishmen think the American delegation was responsible for the mistake, whereas ninety per cent, of the Americans think British commissions ers were responsible. The great, overs, whelming, soul satisfying fact is that the British and American people are a unit in agreeing that whoever was responsible, a mistake was made. Under these circumstances, let us be hopeful for the cause of the peace oi the world, because in the joint hand of the English-speaking peoples rest. 1 the Ark of the Covonant of human freedom.

U.S.A. FEELING. NEW YORK, June 13. The New York Times' Washington correspondent says: The State Depart ment, commenting on Mr MacDonald’s statement con'cerning his American visit, said they had received no word from the Prime Minister either expressing a desire to come, or asking when it would be most convenient to do so. The officials, however, reiterated what has been said before, that Mi MacDonald would be cordially web oiled any time he cares to come. An interesting sidelight on the feeling here over the Dawes-MaeDonalc conversations and addresses was the introduction by Senator Tydings ol tlie. following motion in the Senate : lib'. President is requested to confei with the representatives of the Governments of the world, and -ascertain il it is possible to secure an agreement looking to the limitation of all arm a-, merits, and of the standing personnel 1 on land, sea and air.”

NEW NOTE OF HOPE. SOUNDED BY MR MacDONALD LONDON, June 18. Mr\Runisny MacDonald, in a statement at Lossiemouth, said: ‘‘Whatever lie the, merits or demerits of m> government' it lias lost no time in getting into harness. We take Jio easy complacent view of the nation’s needs. I have put our relations with the United States in the forefront of our national concerns. General Dawes and I found ourselves talcing the same view -of world peace. We have not met to threaten other nations, to dominate other' peoples, to form alliances or any pact. We do not intend presenting, other nations ‘with an accomplished fact which, they can take or leave.' A more generous,. more humane, inc(re' democratic spirit than that was in, Logie House Inst Sunday. We mot hoping that we might lie instrumental in preparing a board round which other nations might sit in co-operative fellowship, studying the arts of peace and gaining a sense of security by the absence of arms. I hope that neither large nor small states will have any doubt about the world-wide purpose of the AngloAmerican conversations. They are not exclusive, 'they are inclusive! America