The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1922. THE ENTENTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1922. THE ENTENTE.

The conference between the British and French Premiers at Boulogne appears to have been entirely successful in arriving at a complete agreement on every point that is likely to arise at the Genoa Conference. No words could be more reassuring than those which are to be found in the communique issued at Boulogne, backed up as they are by the expressions used by Mr. Lloyd George in the course of an interview before he left for London. “I am more than satisfied,” said the British Premier, that the Entente is stronger than ever. France and Britain will work together for the reconstruction of Europe.” It is stated that Mr. Lloyd George intends to submit to the Genoa Conference a treaty limiting the land armaments of all European nations on a similar basis to the" Washington Naval agreement. This important step, in conjunction with the statement in the Boulogne communique that France and Britain were entirely agreed on the nature of the political guarantees to secure order and avoid encroachment on the rights of the League of Nations, or the treaties signed by France since the declaration of peace, or on the Allies’ rights regarding reparations, constitute a forward move in the effort to bring about a peace that is based on solid foundations. Apparently the question of the recognition of the Soviet Government is left quite open, it being dependent on the nature of the guarantees and safeguards that Russia can give. Needless to say that, under existing circumstances, it is useless to expect that any reliable guarantees can be given by Russia, nor can there be any hope of putting that country on its feet until it has a stable Government. Meanwhile it is politic for Russia to be represented at Genoa, if only to encourage that country to hold up its head and seriously entertain the idea of reconstruction on sane and safe lines. Apparently the responsibility of office is having a salutary effect on the French Premier and rubbing off those angles which were causing unnecessary friction. What France needs above everything is security, and Britain is prepared to give that security Without stint, provided France listens to reason and avoids being fractious and self-willed. Universal limitation of'armaments by the nations of Europe can only become an accomplished fact if the spirit which animates those nations is pacific and conciliatory. All that is needed is a settled policy which eliminates resort to military arbitrament as a means for settling disputes and differences that may arise. If the lesson that war does not pay has not yet been brought home to the nations it never will be. The yearning for peace and security is an indication that a war-weary world is looking foi’ a more effective and humane method of deciding international questions than the barbarous law of force, and that the prevailing of right over might is of far greater importance than the clash of arms, with its frightful loss of life, devastation of property and chaotic economic consequences. The Washington Conference inaugurated, it is sincerely hoped, a new era in which reason and justice take the place of arbitrary a'ction. With France and Britain standing firmly shoul-

der to shoulder in the cause of peace, and the United States in the background supporting that cause, there should be no fear of the world again witnessing such a terrible period as that which occurred in 1914-18, and the aftermath of which is proving such a crushing burden for the nations involved in the struggle. Only by relief from the huge burden of armaments can the nations of Europe recover from the maelstrom, and that is the work which the Entente is placing in hand. The stronger this union can be made the better it will be for the whole world. It has to be remembered that the linking up of these two great world Powers is not a menace but a pledge of peace, a beneficent co-operation for the welfare of the nations, a preventive of war ? and a bulwark of civilisation, besides making for a rehabilitation of progress and prosperity. Although we cannot look forward to the attainment at Genoa of a success comparable with that which crowned the efforts of the delegates at Washington, it may yet be found possible to make an appreciable improvement on existing conditions, and the fact that the leaders of the French and British nations are agreed on all matters of importance is a happy augury for satisfactory results being obtained at Genoa.