In the Van of Progress

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 11

In the Van of Progress

BRITAIN'S EFFORTS FOR PEACE

Europe Marches to Stability British Wireless—Press Assn. — Copyright RUGBY, Sunday. SPEAKING at Worcester yesterday, the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, expressed the view that more progress toward peace had been made throughout Europe in the last three years than in any equal period since the war.

TT was in October, 1925, that the greatest step was taken in the conference at Locarno, which brought together France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Great Britain as general guarantors of the existing western frontier between Belgium and France. For the first time since the war, there was a feeling of security, without which it was naturally impossible to co-operate as we should all desire, in the necessary work of reconstituting and i»acifying Europe. Then on the other hand it brought Germany into the League of Nations and marked a definite end of the post-war period. It enabled the Inter-Allied Military Commission in Germany to be withdrawn. Germany on her part has shown good faith in carrying out the terms of the Versailles Treaty, and we now have the great co-operation of Germany and, while our relations essential to progress in Europe have so greatly improved with Germany, it has been possible also to increase co-operation with France and Italy. Now the great progressive nations of the West are united in their endeavour to create a peaceful and prosperous Europe. PROBLEM OF CHINA Referring to China Mr. Baldwin said

that the British Government was still prepared to revise its treaties with China, providing China was in a position to make a bargain. As to the Shanghai Defence Force, it was admitted by the whole world that it had probably saved the lives of thousands of white people. He hoped in time it might be possible to withdraw this force, and that they might see a united Government in China, but that force would not be withdrawn so long as its withdrawal might imperil the lives of British people. DISARMAMENT EFFORTS The Prime Minister said that he did not think that there was any country which had shown more practically how deeply and earnestly it felt in the matter of disarmament than had Britain. He declared that the British proposals at the Geneva Naval Conference would have precluded armament competition. He did not know what would be the next practical attempt to be made, but there was nothing in the course; pursued by the British. Government since the war which could lead people to think that, when there is anything practical to be done, Great Britain will not be in the van of progress.—A. and N.Z.