PEACE FRONT AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1939, Page 5

PEACE FRONT AIMS

FORCE THE ONLY ANSWER TO FORCE BUT CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION DESIRED. UNITED STAND AGAINST AGGRESSION. RUGBY, August 16. Discussing the full purposes of the “peace front,” in which Russia’s early inclusion is anticipated, “The Times” says that the main object is manifestly Io pre-

vent war and to halt aggres-

sion by establishing that it cannot pay —by showing, in other words, that Ihe aggressor will lose a war if he launches one.

The old conception of collective security in armies, it comments, has given way to the new and more realistic conception of a peace front in which a certain number of nations which are immediately menaced by a claim or race to dominate Europe, will be ready to throw the whole of their energy and resources into defending it. “No words can add to the certainty," says •'The Times,” "that Britain, with her Allies, will go to war without the smallest hesitation to frustrate a German assault upon the independence of Poland, whatever attempt is made to cloak and obscure it with details of the dispute over Danzig.* “The answer to force will be force, and it will be given decisively.” Recalling incidents last- September, "The Times” says that the peace front commemorates the falsity of Herr Hitler’s appeal to self-determination and the monstrous betrayal of Germany’s plighted word given at Munich. In face of this past and of the suppression and spoliation now proceeding in Czech territory, and of the demands on Poland, the military significance of the new grouping in Europe is and must remain paramount. FOUNDATIONS OF PEACE. When the peace Powers have perfected diplomatic and military instruments of defence, the moment will have come for them to formulate the principles on which they are jointly ready to found a new peace and the terms on which they for their part are prepared to negotiate a settlement. The next task, therefore, that will presently lie before the peace Powers is to determine the common essence of the peace programme and put it before the world. “The Times” concludes its discussion of this programme as follows: “If there is to be progress toward a truly organised peace disarmament must come, the Nazi interpretation of lebensraum (living space) must go, and the Czechs must be set free to exercise their right of self-government. “Moreover legitimate aspirations in the colonial field must be satisfied without any question of reverting to the old conception of peoples and territories as chattels for exchange. Under the modern accepted principle of trusteeship wider equality is in fact attainable than any trading of possessions could accomplish.

"These are bare conditions dictated by no one and nothing save by the exigencies of peace itself. If anywhere they are accepted, there can be no desire to despair of meeting the political. financial, and commercial demands which Europe will bring to the table. "Till genuine confidence, of peace is proved possible, however the only practical service to peace is to man its defences in full strength." CONFERENCE PLAN FOREIGN OFFICE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. NO QUESTION OF EXCLUDING POLAND & RUSSIA. /Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day. 9.35 a.m.i LONDON. August 17. A Foreign Office spokesman declared that he had no knowledge of any conference plan regarding Danzig and added that, if such a conference were held, Poland and Russia must attend it.