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Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1929, Page 4

The nations were not dismayed to learn that the order has gone forth• from Moscow for a great revolutionary “battle review” throughout the world on August Ist. but some of the Governments have -prudently taken measures to ensure that the Communists do not create unseemly disturbances or find the opportunities for working mischief for which they are looking. No doubt the Soviet Government has deliberately chosen this date for its attempt at a grand international Communist demonstration for the reason that it is clearly coincides with that of the outbreak of the Great AVar. Upon the cynicism of Soviet Russia in clamouring for disarmament and friendly relations with the Governments of countries the institutions of which she is doing her best to undermine it is superfluous to comment. There is more satisfaction in contemplating the fact that these Communist visions of world penetration and conquest still remain nothing but visions and in directing a retrospective glance, upon this return of a date of tragic import, to the manner in which the nations have fared since the war came to

an encl. On June 28th. 1929, was'signed the Treaty of Versailles with the Covenant of the League of Nations, and in January next it will have been ten years in force. For over a decade the world has, at least, had peace. In conjunction with peace it has had the painful accompaniment, the persistent experience, of the effects of the war. ■ Over ten years it has had in which to recover from the upheaval of its normal life, the drain upon its strength,, the destruction of its resources, and the dis.oeation of the economic and industrial foundations of the existence of the nations. Very far from healed are the .wounds, but the lesson of the madness of war should have sunk deeply into the international consciousness. The suffering created by the Great War will not be all in vain if it furnishes a constant stimulus to the effort to, build up a permanent peace and make the recurrence of war impossible, in January, 1920, the League of Nations came into being, and next month uie Tenth Assembly of the League will meet at Geneva. The League has incurred criticism and disparagement, but, when all has been said about its defects and deficiencies, it remains the most hopeful organisation ever established for the prombtion of the ideal of peace. |