THE AMITY DEBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 7

THE AMITY DEBATE.

- , — •_ OBSEQUIES OF THE PROTOCOL. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S TASK. ASSEMBLY OF NATIONS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) GENEVA, September 10. Mr. Austin Chamberlain, at the League Council in March, virtually conducted the obsequies of the protocol. This morning he performed a similar task, before a larger concourse of. nations. It was not an easy task. He weighed his words most carefully, because ib was obviously necessary in an assembly predominantly Latin in temper. It was a cold douche to the disappointed hopes of ardent advocates of the protocol. Mr. Chamberlain / therefore was extremely cautious, halting with unusual frequency to find the best word, but his earnestness impressed everybody, and when he finished a half hour's speech there was a prolonged round of applause, wherein Messieurs Briand and Boncour, who took copious notes, joined heartily. A FULLER SECURITY. The verbatim typescript reads better than the spokeu word, but the best test was its most cordial reception, the interpreters rendering it in French, after which the applause was warmly renewed. Mr. Chamberlain's most impressive passage was in reference to the illogical bases whereon not only the British Constitution, but the Empire was developed, yet they were all the more adapted to finding a middle path leading to a fuller security, which was the desired end. Was not the very secret of the Empire's unity and concord its very ela-sticity, its very lack of definite precision the preservation of which Empire Ministers again and again preferred rather than embodiment in a black and white Constitution? > THE LATIN TEMPERAMENT. Mr. Chamberlain said it was necessary to heed the differences in Anglo-Saxon and Latin mentalities in considering the i protocol. Since he addressed the Council in March, many proofs were forth- | coming that smaller States shared the same fear that the protocol was more designed to punish the criminal than to prevent the.commission of the crime. Did not the last Assembly devote more attention to physical sanctions applicable to flagrant aggressors than to moral sanctions which were more influential in deciding the issue Disarmament through security and security through arbitration were their common platform. Moral disarmament was more important than physical disarmament, and if Britain achieved it in the sphere of Europe with which most of them were associated, she would contribute in 110 small measure to the peace of the world. THE "MENACE SPOTS." Mr. Chamberlain continued that such a system of mutual agreements could be applied to other "menace spots," thus increasing the League's influence and authority. For the next two days this discussion on international amity will continue on general lines in the debate of the League's annual report, but the specific debate on arbitrationa and security is not yet in sight. ,This, which is the thirteenth item on tho agenda, has been referred to the Assembly's Third Committee, but up to the present the actual terms of remission have not been decided and the committee has not met. It is understood nothing will be done until a reply arrives from Berlin in response to a communication emanating from the Foreign Ministers,' meeting yesterda.v. Mr. Chamberlain has definitely arranged to go to London on Saturday night. It is expected the committee will learn the nature of its task early next week. COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. It is more than a coincidence that directly Mr. Chamberlain sat down, the Swedish Foreign Minister submitted a motion urging the whole principle of compulsory arbitration contained in the protocol be remitted to a further conference of experts. This is regarded as a further mutually agreed safeguard to prevent tho broad question of coming to a definite discussion and decision in open assembly.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)