“With Pen and Heart”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 9

“With Pen and Heart”

HOW PACT MUST BE SIGNED British Reply Prepared British Official Wireless Received 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Sunday. CONFIDENCE in the wide acceptance of the Kellogg xwoposals for the outlawry of war has increased rapidly in London as a result of the progress made in the last few days.

The German Government’s reply, constituting in the light of Mr. Kellogg’s explanation and interpretations, an acceptance of the proposals and notifying a willingness to sign without reservations, was delivered this week, and it is understood that the French reply, about which optimism is felt, will be published oo Monday. The British reply is in draft, and after Cabinet sanction has been obtained it will, of course, be circulated to the Dominions. This progress has followed rapidly upon the conversations between the German, French and British jurists, M. Gaus, M. Fromageot, and Sir Cecil Hurst, which took place In Berlin last week. Sir Cecil Hurst and M. Fromageot had been at Geneva, and M. Gaus was unable to leave Berlin, his colleagues proceeded there for an exchange of views regarding the relationship of Mr. Kellogg’s proposals to the treaties and agreements already in force for the maintenance of peace. It was stated yesterday three jurists found complete unanimity to exist as to the interpretations to be put on the recent American communications regarding the proposed pact. Obviously the British draft could not take form before the Foreign Secretary had had an opportunity of consulting his principal legal adviser, and Sir Cecil Hurst after his absence in Geneva and Berlin, did not reach London until the present week, since when, as stated, the draft has been evolved which now awaits Cabinet sanction before its terms are telegraphed to the Dominions. WITH PEN AND HEART Referring at a public meeting last night to the proposed peace pact, the Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson Hicks, said that in the last few weeks the British Government had given particular care to the proposals,

and when Cabinet had settled the reply, it would be found that Britain was not the least bit behind France or Germany in enthusiastic acceptance of the idea of outlawing war. It was useless signing the pact with the pen unless it was also signed with the heart. The countries could not maintain gigantic armies and navies and pretend they were not again going to war. Everyone must keep sufficient for international police purposes, but when the world was on the eve of signing a great and important pact to do away with war, the pact could be nothing but a hollow sham unless the nations followed the example of Britain and showed a real desire to curtail their armaments.