OUTLAWRY OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 9

OUTLAWRY OF WAR.

DAT OF THANKSGIVING. APPEAL BY ARCHBISHOP. 'An appeal to all men of goodwill to mark by prayer and thanksgiving the signing at Paris next week of the Kellogg Peace Pact is made by the Primate, Archbishop Averill. In a letter to the editor of tho "Auckland Star," he •writes:— "May I through the medium of the "Star" venture to make a suggestion to all whom it may concern. ; "Ths approaching international event, is to take on August 28 at "Paris—the signing of the Kellogg Peace ,Poct for the outlawry of war as an instrument of national policy for the settlement of international differences find disputes—is fraught with such tre"jnendpus consequcnces and possibilities for the consolidation of peace in the world that I . venture to appeal to all men of goodwill to offer thanksgivings and prayers to Almighty God on Sunday, August 20, Tuesday, August 28, and Sunday, September 2. (1) For the measure of agreement which has been reached by the great nations of the earth on this all-important question, and (2) for the Divine blessing upon the practical outcome of the Treaty.

( "It is well to remember that the original proposals of Mr. Kellogg are quite simple. We may assume that the exact wording of the treaty will follow closely these original proposals and that the inalienable right of every nation to defend itself will not be interfered with.

"The signing of the treaty and the blessings which we hope and believe will accrue to the world thereby mean such a tremendous step in the outlawry of war and the consolidation of peace and international friendship that I offer no apology for making this appeal to those who have the real welfare of their own country, their empire at heart.

"Tho spirit behind the League of Nations Covenant and the Locarno Treaty ia focussed in thto all-important step to be taken at Paris on August 28, ana it behoves all who realise the importance and force of spiritual, moral and humanitarian sanctions to express their sympathy with this splendid development in international relationships. From every point of view it seems to me to be our bounden duty to do all we can to eliminate from the minds of men the overhanging dread and baneful shadow of an impending 'next war.'

"May our hearts express themselves in thanksgiving and prayer for the happy consummation of this very real step toward universal peace!"