EMPIRE AND THE WORLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 511, 14 November 1928, Page 9

EMPIRE AND THE WORLD

STUDY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS NEED FOR ONE POLICY (United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) (United Service J OTTAWA, Monday. In an address to the Canadian Club, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, today reviewed the European conditions which led up to the Treaty of Locarno. Sir Austen pleaded for the people of the British Dominions to interest themselves in foreign affairs, so that the policies of London . tight represent not only the British Government, but also might respond to the sentiment of all the constituent parts of the Empire. In outlining the fears of post-war Europe prior to the famous meetings at Locarno, he said the increase in armaments was not due to a further desire for military glory, but to the fear which reigned in the seats of government and in the hearts of the peasants. Sir Austen explained the rejection by Mr. Baldwin’s Government of the Geneva Protocol of 1924, which was negotiated by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, then Prime Minister. He said that such an agreement would have entirely altered the character of the League of Nations, and would have made it an instrument for war rather than an agency for the preservation of peace. The League would have become a super-State, infringing and over-riding the rights of Jte sovereign States which belonged to it. CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE Britain could not be indifferent to the conditions on the Continent of Europe, for in the past disinterest had always resulted in misfortnne and disaster. However, the position of Britain still brought a certain detachment, since the peoples of the Dominions were further off, and saw European affairs in a truer light. “You bring the opinions of the New World to correct the errors of the Old.” said the speaker. ' Thus the British Commonwealth of Nations brings a contribution to the peace of the world such as no other Power can bring.”