THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1942, 20 February 1919, Page 2

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED

VITAL PROPOSALS UNSOLVED. ' Wellington. Feb. 19. The following is an official report of the Peace Conference proceedings;— Both Now Zealand Ministers attended the third plenary session of the Peace Conference, whereat the draft of the covenantor the League of Nations was submitted and expounded as I lie new charter of i world peace and unselfish co-opera- - lion.

It was an historic occasion, whereof the outstanding feature was the manner in which the covenanting signatories sought to impart their .optimism to the'Conference, of which many members db not accept the charter as (he beginning 01. a now heaven on a new earth. The draft was not generally discussed, but full discussion is expected later. Mr Massey, when interviewed, said no exception could be taken, to the principles and aims of (lie League, but opinions must ditfei; as to its practical effect as machinery to end the war, since many vital problems connected with the scheme are still unsolved. There- was nothing definite, for example, as regards disarmament, freedom of the seas, iinaiicc for the numerous mandatories, and the l‘orees«required to enforce the League’s will on unruly and unscrupulous nations who would not be disciplined by previous ideals alone. Then the arbitration scheme was nebulous, and gave no guarantee of security. ,Hc thought that exhaustive consideration of disputes might have some influence on the averting of war. The proposals as regards disarmament called for careful consideration and scrutiny. No one could challenge the fact that.the war would nut have been won without the British Navy, which to-day was the worlds most potent influence for peace. It had been (he giant whose strength had been exorcised, not for oppression and aggression, hut for world peace am! freedom. Was this Samson to be shorn of his strength without due regard for results or without careful examination of substitutes for its strength f It was by far the world’s best instrument for peace, and (he proposed interference must he keenly examined. Then there was the question of the Central Bowers. Wore they to become members of the League before they had given proof of their regeneration or had made reparation for their crimes agaiust the world? Immunity from punishment would not crime, nor would it tend to end aggressive war. The peace ol the world depended not alone on the League of Nations, hut also upon the conditions which would he imposed upon enemy countries, not only linancially, hut also military and naval conditions. The Conference must do its plain duty in these respects as well as make a genuine effort to prevent ii recurrence of the horrors that humanity had experienced during the past live years. SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED. Paris, Fob. Id. Sir Joseph Ward, discussing the League, said: .“Everyone must agree without hesitation that a fundamental need of the peace settlement is definite machinery for the prevention of a recurrence of a great world tragedy. Honest efforts must he made to construct international means for avoiding war. The covenant certainly represents (he best and most honest thought on the matter. It is not free from defects,

but provides all the principles for a substantial foundation of international co-operation. It is less cumbersome than expected, with enough elasticity to permit a general improvement and evolution. The article dealing with the future admission of enemy dales is explicit regarding the necessary safeguards. Many articles represent drastic restrictions on previous freedom of enterprise, but'the League should succeed in maintaining general assent to them. As regards mandatories, the delegates must accept the system. It is impossible to have , a League without the mandatory system. If such he given a thorough trial, the experiment should never be worse than tolerable. Those *

with an intimate knowledge of the South Pacific necessarily favour British control, because it develops the natives and givfes them liberty. We need not four that the mandatory clause will inevitably lead to a Oesiro by the natives for a free absorption in neighbouring British communities, whore they get full measure of justice and equal opportunities,”

Sir Joseph Ward added (hat an alternative to the scheme was (he ruination of Bolshevism. He did not regard (he League as creating a snpernational State. Indeed, there was nothing hi it preventing the proper upkeep of the British Navy.