The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1921. A NEW EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1921. A NEW EUROPE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

Ever since the Great War closed it lm been obvioua that no satisfactory settlement of European affairs and no permanent assurance of the world's peace will be possible without some sort of mutual compact between tbe various Continental State*. Unfortunately the difficulties in the way of such a project are etill almost insuperable, and consideration of it has been deferred by the immediate necessity for dealing with the many practical problems still unsolved, involving the interests and relations of the European! Powers. What was needed first was a suitable occasion for the discussion of some such scheme; and thie is now afforded by the successful issue of the' disarmament conference convened by the American President at WashingtonIt may be premature to attempt any estimate of the effect* likely to be pro- j duced by the agreement now reached between the leading naval Powers in regard to the limitation of armamentsBut the most important result of the Washington Conference probably ie that : it has familiarised the Powere with the j idea of agreement by mutual concessions! and compromises, and it has thus pre-j pared the way for some more compre-' beneive international pact that may include all the leading States and gov, ernmente in the Western world and' may thus promote even more effectively than the League of Xatione the great cause of the world's peace. Though the success of the Washington Conference has naturally given rise to many rumours of the kind, the firet definite suggestion bearing upon the subject reached ue three days ago, in a cable message dealing with 'the diplomatic "conversations" on which the Prime Ministers of Britain and France are now engaged. It was stated that Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand would probably discuss, among other topics, "the question of a European Conference in- | eluding Germany and Russia," and this intimation was strengthened by a subsequent message to the effect that the meeting between the two Premiers would probably produce important international results and might even lead to "a European pact similar to the Pacific' treaty made at Washington." The last item of intelligence under thie head is a statement for which the Central News, Agency is responsible, that Mr. Lloyd George has submitted to M. Briand a proposal that "a five-Power Conference," including Russia and Germany as well > as Britain, Prance, and Italy, should be convoked early in the New Year. Even if this report is authentic, it does not necessarily mean that Mr. Lloyd George has already worked out in detail any practicable scheme for an international compact on so large a scale. But it i≤, to say the least, encouraging to find that there is come prospect of an attempt to assist the reconstruction of Europe by frank and open discussion between the representatives of all the Powers, involving as it must the recognition of those common interests and! responsibilities by which in spite of wars| and revolutions, all the various I portions of the civilised world are in reality bound together. The mere suggestion of such a scheme is enough to direct attention at once to the principal obstacles that will need to | be overcome "before it can come within the range of practical politics—the difficulties involved in the inclusion of Germany and Russia. It is of course inconceivable that Europe should 'be allowed to drift along helplessly for an indefinite time in the chaotic condition in -which tho Great War has left her. But it must be admitted even by the most ardent pacifists and internationalists that there is little to 'bo gained 'by attempting a general "rapprochement" Tjetween the Powers while some of the leading members of the European "commonwealth of nations" arc unatle or unwilling to supply sufficient proof of their good faith or their good intentions. The case against Germany just now is not ■ that the Kaiser and his friends under ■ the old regime plotted and precipitated the war, 'but that under her new Government she still fails to satisfy the requirements of her former enemies or to afford evidence that she is honestly endeavouring to discharge her obligations. As to Russia, the chief difficulty in the way of bringing this great State within the "bounds of "the concert of Europe" fc not her repudiation of her detrts nor even the character of her internal administration, tout the undeniable fact that her rulers have publicly proclaimed their intention of working for the overthrow of the whole political and social order on which Statehood and constitutional government are ! elsewhere "based. Before the Allies admit Germany to their councils they must be satisfied as to her sincerity in the matters of reparations and future peace, and they must obtain satisfactory assurances from the Soviet Government that it will not continue to make war upon Western civilisation. j