THE FIVE-POWERS PACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1922, Page 4

THE FIVE-POWERS PACT.

Justification for the existence of the League of Nations lias not been long in coming. It has taken the shape of a pact between the present leading five Powers for preventing war, thus confirming the object of the League, though it does not replace that important organisation. It embodies the American idea of an association of nations changed with the duty of exercising moral and economical pressure on nations who threaten war against one another, the only difference between the Pact and the League being the absence in the former of any provision for applying armed force to stop a war. Nevertheless this Pact must be taken seriously, and be regarded as a real power for preserving peace. These two methods of making wars to cease cannot fail to exercise on the nations that restraint from resort to hostilities whereby alone permanent peace can be secured. Never before has there existed such an effective barrier to warfare than will be the case when the (Five-Power Pact is signed. It is a peculiarly fitting accompaniment, to the naval holiday and others efforts to eliminate competitive armament and causes of international troubles. Moreover, it testifies to the new spirit wliich has animated the delegates to the Washington Confensnce in their desire to settle outstanding differences by discussion designed to arrive at agreement, and not to create discord. The late ’war was so terrible that it is not surprising every effort should be made to avert another European struggle. ’lf only in the interests of humanity it was necessary that some effective means should be evolved for preventing a similar catastrophe in the future. The Pact enunciates the principle that the barbarous method of referring international disputes to a contest with destructive armaments shall cease, and arbitration take its place. It would be foolish to predict that the last war has been fought, yet the risk of another outbreak has been reduced to almost vanishing point, provided that the now spirit of conciliation is kept alive, and the new value of moral pressure justly appreciated. Apparently there is every prospect of these desirable factors being permanent.