COLLECTIVE PEACE A COMMON OBJECTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 7

COLLECTIVE PEACE A COMMON OBJECTIVE.

BREACH BY ITALY.

Archbishop of Canterbury And the League.

JUDGMENT OF 50 NATIONS,

British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 21. Speaking at the Church Conference to-day the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, said: "Italy has been for generations our close and constant friend and there is no desire deeper in the hearts of all of us than that such friendship may continue. It is most important to make plain that the present dispute is not between this country and Italy but between Italy and the League of Nations.

"Moreover, in passing judgment upon the acts of Italy we are only echoing the judgment by some 50 nations of the world. We are bound by the obligations of the Covenant which we have deliberately undertaken. If, unfortunately, Italy has made a breach in her observance of the Covenant that is no reason why .wo should follow that example, but rather there is every reason why we should be more determined to keep our own word and encourage other nations to keep theirs.

"The only security' of peace in the world is collective acceptance of a common rule of law among the nations. So as to establish that rule the League of Nations was founded and exists. To protect and defend the Covenant of the League is the surest way of protecting and defending the way of settled peace."

The Archbishop disclosed that he had invited the authorities of all Christian committees to send simultaneously a solemn reminder of their obligations to the members representing them 011 the League, and lie added: "I learn that the Pope is unwilling at present to say more than 110 has publicly said. We must generously recognise the peculiar difficulty in which he is placed. I hope the Anglican and Protestant communions will soon unite in uttering an assertion of the supremacy of the Kingdom of God."