The Wanganui Chronicle MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1926. THE PEACEMAKERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19722, 13 December 1926, Page 8

The Wanganui Chronicle MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1926. THE PEACEMAKERS

It will appear to most people that the tribunal which awards the Nobel Peace Prizes has made a good choice in its latest decisions. General Charles Dawes, whose name is familiar in connection with the Dawes Reparations Plan, and Sir Austen Chamberlain, Britain’s Foreign Minister, receive the awards for 1925, while the Foreign Ministers of France and Germany, M. Briand and Dr. Stresemann, are selected for this year’s honours. In the past the committee has been prone to give the prizes to idealists, a number of whom have actually done little to promote peace. The selection of statesmen who have been able to give practical expression to their desire for peace is obviously more in keeping with the purpose of the prizes. The work for which General Charles Dawes, the distinguished American, has been honoured preceded that by means of which Sir Austen Chamberlain qualified as a peacemaker; indeed, had it not been for General Dawes’ solution of the reparations problem Sir Austen might not yet have had his opportunity at Locarno. The Allies and Germany were very seriously at variance over the question of reparations when the Dawes Committee in 1924 undertook the task of framing a working arrangement. The success of the plan that was adopted has now been made fully apparent, for Germany has satisfactorily completed her periodical payments to date. General Dawes’ achievement .certainly made a substantial contribution to the peace of Europe.

Dr, Luther, Germany’s Prime Minister, Dr. Stresemann and Sir Austen Chamberlain have all been mentioned in connection with Locarno, and to M. Briand credit has been given for the settlement of the problems relating to the Rhine territory. Each of these statesmen has had a share in the making of agreements which by common consent have done more to stabilise Europe than any other agreement ever has done. The Foreign Ministers of the three Powers have shown that they are eager to keep peace, and each of thagn has been willing to make concessions to the peace spirit and to help the others towards the goal. It is largely due to their influence that the League of Nations is now able to enter upon serious discussion of the question of disarmament.

There may be a disposition to cavil at the inclusion of Germany’s Foreign Minister among the prize-winners. Dr. Stresemann has manifested a desire for peace, but Germany, according to the Inter-Allied Military Commission, is not as* peaceful as she appears to be. Having been disarmed herself by the Treaty of Versailles, she presses for general disarmament, but it is claimed that her military activities are far greater than they should be. That fact, however, does not necessarily detract from the value of Dr. Stresemann’s services at Locarno and elsewhere. He has played the part of a peacemaker and probably has done much to promote the love of peace in his own country.