DESIRE FOR PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1922, Page 5

DESIRE FOR PEACE.

SINCERITY OF BIG POWERS. LOYALTY TO TREATIES. PROBLEMS OF EUROPE. By Telegraph.—-Press Aasb.—Copyright. Received Oct, 31, 11.10 pjn. Washington, October 31. The Secretary of State (Mr. C. E. Hughes), speaking at Boston, said: “We favor an International Court of Justice for the determination of ‘justiciable’ international disputes according to judicial standards. I believe suitable arrangements can be made for the participation of the United States in the election of judges for an International Court, and thus formal support to that court. Meanwhile no interest is jeopardised and there is no danger of America warring over a justiciable dispute.

“The fundamental problems of Europe are political. Each nation is her own judge of the matter of policy, and therefore will follow her own interests. Except in cases of exigency the main problems of Europe cannot be solved except by Europe herself, because self-determined action is beyond external control. The chief trouble is that the great Powers are unable to agree on questions directly concerning them, due to different conceptions of national policy. To us, international co-operation does not mean that we should embroil ourselves in controversies without our own interests. “The reason the Washington Conference was successful in limiting naval armaments is due to the fact that it was a limited conference, with precise and limited aims and a practical programme. Britain, Japan and the United States, the three great naval Powers and the principal competitors for navy power, ratified all the Washington arms treaties. This is of the utmost significance, and precludes all thought of ultimate failure of the work of the conference. I have no reason to believe that Italy and France will fail to ratify them. “However serious are the difficulties that vex us at present, the work of the Washington Conference gives us an assurance of the sincerity of the desire for peace, which lights the pathway of hope for a world that is war weary. Britain, Japan and the United States are performing their obligations under the Washington treaties, and are scrapping their navies accordingly, and there is no indication of a desire of any other Power to enter into construction contrary to the treaty, pending their rati-fication.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.