Four-Square for the League

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 149, 14 September 1927, Page 1

Four-Square for the League

Policy of the British Empire Sir Austen Chamberlain Sums Up A ROBUST declaration of faith in the future of the League of Nations was made by Sir Austen Chamberlain to international journalists at Geneva. He made it clear that Great Britain stands four-square for the ideals of the League, and rounded off his credo with an assurance that he personally was “soberly optimistic” about its destiny.

By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright

Reed. 11.22 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. S’lß AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN received about 250 journalists from all parts of the world at his hotel at Geneva last' evening, and discussed some of the questions that were considered during the present Assembly of the League of Nations. The Foreign Secretary said he realised that the entire Assembly could not be expected to adopt the view expressed by him in his speech on Saturday: but he impressed on his audience that from Englishmen’s standpoint it was a reasonable atti-

tude, for the British Empire was not willing to make engagements she might be unable to fulfil. It was unlikely that members of the League would be in agreement for a long time on the question of the Protocol, and he did not see any advantage in proceeding with a discussion which, to his mind, would not bring about any further success or prac-

tical results. That was not because Englishmen looked only on the practical side of things, nor was it because Englishmen questioned the ideals of the League. Basis of Foreign Policy “We have based all cur foreign policy,” continued Sir Austen Chamberlain, “and all our foreign relations on the League. All our foreign relations are inspired by the ideals of the League, and we are always willing to help as much as we possibly can the policy of general appeasement and of peace between neighbours.” Great Britain had no compromise to make in the matter of her policy, which was that of attaining a gradual establishment of friendly relations between nations. Anywhere where Britain had been able to better the world she had done so. Everywhere her influence had been placed at the service of the League of Nations. A Dangerous Path Every year after every League meeting war became more difficult to launch, and more difficult to justify. We had not yet reached the point where war was impossible, but the nation which would make war without the consent of the League would start on a dangerous path that would cost it very dearly. “If we look back ten years, we can see the progress that has been made,” said Sir Austen, “and on account of that progress it is difficult to understand the uneasiness that marked the beginning of the Assembly, but which was dissipated as the debates proceeded. “At Locarno before the day of the Treaty signature, I said to the British journalists that I was soberly optimistic. To-day I am still soberly optimistic, and have confidence in the League’s future. Let us base that confidence on facts. My country will do all it can.” —A. and N.Z.