AUSTRALIAAND EMPIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAAND EMPIRE

PEACE DESIRED. SELFISHNESS OF UUSOUB. RUHR REFABATTOW. (By Cable.— Preaa Association.—Copyrigtitt Received 2 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. In the House of Representatives, Mr. S. M. Bruce, replying in the Imperial Conference debate, said he had never listened to a dicussion with such misconceptions of the issues involved. The Opposition endeavoured to make the issue one of war or peace. Hie purpose was to strive for peace, and one method was by pressing claims, at the Conference for the League of Nations. The world's peace largely depended on Britain's foreign policy, yet Labour did not want to participate, though professing love for their fellow-men. Instead of preferred a selfish policy of isolation. Be advocated an Empire defence scheme, because it was practical. Australia must be defended, but the country would be hopelessly overburdened unless a scheme were formulated in conjunction with another Power. Referring to the Ruhr and reparations, Mr. Bruce said that for France to remain' in the Ruhr would be perpetuating another Alsace-Lorraine, which would be a great tragedy. Hβ agreed with Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister of England, that Germany should make reparation in full. The motion to print the Imperial agenda paper was carried on the voices.— (A. and NZ Cable.)