THE WORLD'S PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 28 February 1907, Page 4

THE WORLD'S PEACE.

-Mr \V. T. Stead lisis taken in Paris | on his way round Europe ou a peace propagaml.st nii»-ioii («iys the Paris correspondent ol a Home paper). Si nile 1.0 Matin publishes an interview wjth him, knottier journal ilja-ms U have employed its chef fiction writer to do a biographical sketch of the editor of the Review of Reviews. This newspaper describes him as the man' who, for the sake of his political opinions, threw away .C 20,000,000 (500,0.10,OOUf.)) 'I ilia vast fort line, according io t.!iu newspaper in question, Mr Stead, as he knew, would have inherited under ttie will of ttie late Mr Cecil Kliodes, if he had kept hs mouth shut aud his pen idle during the Boer War. As, however, Mr Stead ranged hiiuself ou tiie side of the Boers, and refuse, to desist, Mr Rhodes becoming exasperated, tore up his will, and so Mr Head lost his fortune. To Le Matin, which confirms the story in all its details. Mr Stead announces that he .fl charged with no official mission by the British Government, but says that before his departure from London he hat long interviews with S r Henry Campbell Bannennan and Sir Edward Grey, who authorised him to make certain declarations in their name. These declarations have reference principally to tiie forthcoming conference- at The Hague, 'the British Premier, he say*, attaches the greatest importance to this re-union, but he siys it will be impossible for Sir Ilenry Campbell Bannernian to attend personally. Outlining the programme, Mr Stead is credited with saying that the delegates would be asked to see whether they could not render war impossible in the future. If no other country would raise this question, then England would uiove in the matter herself. A for-

mal assurance to this effect had been

given to him by Sir Edward Grey, and, Mr Stead added that the British foreign Minister had authorised him to make it known. The countries assisting at the Conference would be jisked to include in their yearly budget it certain sum to be devoted to the propagation of international peace. Another point to which great importance would attach was the making obligatory of Article 8 of The Hague agreement. In the case of impending conflict between two Powers, a third Power, under this art cle, had the right to offer its services, as mediator. He would like to see it made compulsory that, in the case of strained relat.ons

between two Powers, it .should bo morally incumbent upon them not to begin war before the expiration of, say lifteen to twenty days. This would giv<# to friendly Powers time to offer their services, in the hope of bringing

about an amicable settlement of the difficulties, so averting war. This, iu effect, went on .ur Stead, was what was practiced in the ordinary duel, for before the principals flew at eaen other's throat the seconds usually did

their best to effect a reconciliation. Jt any country treacherously attacked another and set at defiance this rule of delay, Mr Stead's suggestion is that the offeuding Power should be "put in Coventry," so to speak, an international boy-cott to be organised against i-lier, the otjher Powers rcfusii|g any aid, either military, commercial, or iinancial. The offender wouid thus be branded, the world over, as a country

which had violated its solemn pledge. According to Iteuter Mr Stead stated that he had the formal assent of Sir Henry Campbell Bannermau to the. proposal that nenceforth all civilised coun-

tries shall place on their Budgets, a .-urn, however small, intended to spral the ideas of peace. "Do you suppose," added Mr Stead, "that visits like those of the municipal councils of Berlin an I Paris to London do not contribute to the maintenance of good relations between two countries? Visits, conferences, and receptions- must now take place a little everj'where, and it is necessary for this purpose that each Minister of Foreign Affairs should have at • his disposal a small credit, which, in case of need, could come to the assist-

ance of efforts by individual*.

lions— sometimes milliards— of francs are spent every year on weapons of warfare; could not a few millions be spent on works ojf peace':*