The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1933. THE FOUR POWER. PACT.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1933. THE FOUR POWER. PACT.

The signing of the Four Power Pact on the eve of the Economic Conference, was a nco.ssary gesture to ensure the great conclave starting out with some hope of peace in Europe, even if disarmament had not been accepted by the Powers. The Pact was the work in the main of Mussolini and Mr MacDonald, the greater credit being due to the former, who was the final instrument to secure the signature of Germany. The Pact is designed to secure peace between Britain, France, Germany and Italy, and is in addition to the Locarno; agreement on somewhat similar lines and effect. France and Germany are well known to have their national difficulties one with the other and at times.tehe interests of France and Italy were in danger of a clash. The=e differences may now be solved, without an appeal to arms. The Pact, is for a decade, and in that time of ten years the parties should be able to compose their differences. It must be considered a great feat accomplished, and the atmosphere at the opening of the Economic Conference would be the clearer, and the outlook lees clouded with possible eventualities. A special tribute is due to Mussolini for the part he has played and the figure he has cut in the negotiations. From the outset, when the British Prime Minister went to discuss preliminaries, the action of the Italian Premier has been whole hearted. It was left to Britain to win over France and Mussolini had the more difficult task to secure the -signature of Germany. These two objectives being achieved, the Pact became an accomplished fact and the neace of Europe becomes assured. This is an important step, because there were unsettled conditions among the smaller nations while the state of Germany and the excesses which marked that period, gave rise to fears that something untoward would follow. It i,s due to the pfi od sense of the onlooking nations that no extreme reprisals were taken, and that differences wore, capable, of adjustment bv diplomatic action. When it is recalled how Europe in particular was ravaged by the Great War, it will be a relief to. know that at least ten years of nonce are assured. The alarms and excursions which have been going on, and the preparations to he nr de, may now die down • and matters of domestic and national interest on the home Government engross all attention. In it-elf the action r akin to actual disarmament. and the period set for marking ti TV ' ri will allow amp.e onnortunity for reflection, and the knowledge should grow that I he futility of arremaot bonnily reola r ed bv a new era of a ''otter In Fmt time* the conviction should he reached tlipt a very d” irable step has been taken, and with the new found wrdnm. t' r P nations will have the opportunity to consider matters more important to

the national aii.J international welfare, and so ring in a period of [reace which should lie the forerunner to substaiiUal prosperity.