THE PEACE PROPOSALS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 1 May 1911, Page 5

THE PEACE PROPOSALS

TAFT-GREY SCHEME SUPPORTED. SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, April 28. There was an enormous meeting at the Guildhall to support Mr. Taft'g arib.tration proposals, the Lord Mayor presiding. Amongst those present were Sir George Reid and Sir William HallJones, and the political, commercial and religious interests of the nation were fully represented. Mr. Asquith moved the following resolution:—

"That this meeting welcomes Mr. Taft's proposals and pledges itself to support them."

He said that the principles of general arbitration were not Utopian, but they demanded the abandonment of international duelling. The proposed treaty had no ulterior political purpose, nor was it a menace to the rest of the world, but only meant that war would be ruled out. It would be an instrument for settling differences, and they hoped and believed other things would follow. "Meanwhilel" he- added, "wei will not forego precautions for the stewardship of our world-wide trust." Mr. Balfour, in seconding the motion, said he did not share the view that paper barriers would be swept away under the strain of international rivalry. When laws and treaties were not in advance of public opinion they would be honorably recognised. He believed that in the public opinion of England and the United States the time was ripe for the agreement. They must, however, not confuse the question with preparation for war, aB the treaty would not lessen their world-wide responsibilities. The Lord Mayor invited Sir Joseph Ward to speak. He received an ovation. Sir Joseph said that the people of New Zealand appreciated the striking advance made by Mr. Taft's proposals upon existing treaties. Hitherto questions of national honor had been uniformly omitted from national treaties and this had too often in the past kept the word of promise to the ear, while in the hour of crisis it waß broken. It was to be hoped the underlying sentiment of the present proposal was the genuine and sincere national love for peace marking the two most propressive countries in the world.

Speaking on behalf of New Zealand and the other overseas dominions,, he heartily supported the motion, which was in the interests of the Anglo-Saxon race and the world at large. The motion was carried unanimously.