PEACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 9

PEACE

Overture By Germany LEAGUE ASSEMBLY “Last Dark Clouds Gone” By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. BY far the most important event in the present assembly of the League of Nations was the unconditional acceptance by Ilerr Stresemann, German Foreign Minister, of the optional clauses regarding the Hague Court. M. Briand (Foreign Minister of France) said this removed the last clouds that had darkened the sky.

GENEVA, Saturday. Speaking in the Assembly of the League the German Foreign Minister, Herr Stresemann, advocated peace and disarmament. He announced amidst applause that Germany was willing to sign the optional clause of the convention on arbitration. There could, however, be no spirit of peace, he declared, while there were occupied territories. The French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, said Herr Stresemann’s speech had removed the last clouds which had darkHMMliailE ened the sky. Fiance and GerUnliSw Typi many were now HI u ’ ) l e 1° meet irJwl openly and discuss ami ’'J *%Bji a most delicate BMp Jafe. rail question, a procedure which had previously seemed inSHI. ' Jaßi conceivable. Some people who were seeking to wbBHB make a profit from

producing conflict Herr Stresemann a n dissension were aiming at causing a rupture in the League, said M. Briand, but all the members of the League belonged to one family and were working for universal peace. France more than ever favoured an obligatory jurisdiction in arbitration.

M. Briand asked whether public discussion on disarmament helped the cause of peace. When legislators were busy reorganising the military forces they must consider public feeling. It was, he said, useless to say there were no means of security for the execution of the recommendations. Nobody expected to reach the goal in one spurt, it required an act of faith. All must make the same effort. If war broke out all the nations would be dragged in. “NOBLE AND COURAGEOUS” The speech made by Herr Streseman was, he said, noble and courageous. The principle of arbitration was progressing, as was evidenced by Herr Stresemann's acceptance of compulsory arbitration. France had equally accepted arbitration. The dogs of war had been unleashed in the recent conflict between Greece and Bulgaria, but when the League ordered a suspension of hostilities both parties had honourably obeyed. This instance alone justified the existence of the League. The Australian delegate, Sir George Pearce, followed M. Briand with a lengthy speech. He outlined the attitude of Australia and said she was most keenly interested in all proposals which would make for disarmament and peace. The League must not be stampeded into hasty decisions. Nothing was more likely to lessen confidence in the League than vacillation in the pursuit of peace or a desire to please passing phases of public opinion, or a demand for the sensational and dramatic presence of representatives of ex-enemy nations. AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION Referring to the proposals to reconsider the Geneva Protocol of 1924, Sir George said the lack of coniidence in the Protocol had caused serious doubt and misgivings. Australia was not experienced in international diplomacy, but she had had practical experience of compulsory arbitration, which was the main principle of the Protocol. The term “compulsory arbitration” itself contemplated the existence of ill-will in a dispute and the use of force. He was not prepared to say that industrial arbitration in Australia had failed, but he could not, say it could be classed as an unqualified success. The main aim of the League should not be the settlement of disputes, but the prevention of differences which would develop into disputes, and would require the intervention either of the League or of The Hague Court. The League should give encouragement to settlements by friendly negotiations without resort to the League. Australia felt that the adoption of the Protocol would extend the danger of driving disputants into hostile camps, as industrial arbitration had done in Australia. Let the League, advised Sir George, earnestly pursue the policy of disarmament by agreement, and success would come. STRUGGLE NOT FINISHED The importance of Herr Stresemann’s utterance was somewhat overlooked last evening owing to the delivery of the speech in rapid German which was understood by few of the delegates, but to-day the announcement is recognised as a step of first-class

national importance. This can be interpreted as a first round victory for the opponents of the two-sided attempt by Poland ana Holland to revivify the principles of the Geneva Protocol. But the struggle is not yet finished. There will be further fights in committee, but British circles do not fear that finally there will be any serious resurrection of the most objectionable features of the Protocol, after the speeches of the Polish delegate, M. Sokal, and Herr Stresemann. Herr Stresemann concluded his speech with the important announcement that he intended in the present session to sign on behalf of Germany the optional clause regarding the Court of Arbitration at The Hague:. This means the compulsory acceptance of the decision of the Court in any dispute between nations who have not signed the optional clauses. —A. and N.Z.