PATEA BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1921, Page 5

PATEA BY-ELECTION.

HOLLAND AT PATEA. (Contributed.) On Sunday evening last, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party, lectured at the Town Hall, Patea, on the subject of “The Imperial Conference and the Menace of Secrecy.” Mr. T. Carter, president .of the Patea Freezing Workers’ Union, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. Mr. Holland first of all made reference to the cable received by Mr. Massey inviting him to attend the Imperial Conference, and then dealt with the Prime Minister’s attitude when .Parliament met. He contended that whoever went to the Imperial Conference should have no power to commit New Zealand to any arrangement whatever until the people of New Zealand had been consulted. He outlined the evolution of the Imperial Conference, and then proceeded to review the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1902 and the changes made in 1905. He contended there was now no need for a renewal of this treaty (which was a war treaty), inasmuch as the necessary arrangements between the two countries could be made under the League of Nations, of which they were both members. If the present treaty were renewed, he said. England would be involved in war on the side of Japan in the event of a war breaking out between America and Japan. To prove the danger of secrecy he traced the history of secret diplomacy during the pdst seventy or eighty years, particularising the secret commitments which involved France, England, and Germany in tjie recent war; and also outlined the intriguings and secret arrangements during the war —arrangements which bartered millions of people and millions of miles of territory without any regard whatever for the wishes of the peoples affected. Special attention was l paid to the secret offers made to Turkey, Bulgaria Roumania, and Greece by the Allied Powers. Finally, the lecturer explained certain secret arrangements made since the war between France and Belgium, France and Hungary. Britain, America, and France on the one hand and Japan on the other hand with respect to the finances of China—any one of which might easily endanger the world’s peace. He argued that while secrecy was not the main cause of warfare, it most certainly was an important factor in precipitating war, and proceeded to make a caee in favor of open diplomacy, claiming that in light and not in darkness lay the world’s sole hope of salvation from fratricidal warfare. Mr. Holland’s- address was followed with close attention by the large audience. and he resumed his seat amidst prolonged ajiplause. On the motion of Mr. McCullough, secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union, a vote of thanks by acclamation was _tha