PEACE EFFORTS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19251, 5 March 1928, Page 9

PEACE EFFORTS.

VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS. (by ca3lz—paess association—copyright.) (AOBTEALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE BSOCIATION.) (Received March 4th, 11.50 p.m.) PARIS, March 3. "It would have been of immense assistance to Viscount Grey in his peace efforts before the war if there had been quarterly meetings at which an opportunity would have been given of discussing current international problems with other foreign Ministers," said Sir Austen Chamberlain, while en route to the League Council at Geneva. "Such meetings are most valuable. I often wonder how business was transacted in olden days when the British Foreign Minister did not know what people he was dealing with," he added. These meetings had not superseded the daily work of diplomatists, but were supplementary to it. He considered Tgypt's rejection of the treaty was a misfortune, but Egypt's, not Britain's, misfortune. Extremist influence had prevailed. It was an honest, geneious attempt to reconcile Egyptian aspirations to the vital needs of the British Empire.

CONDITIONS OF BELLIGERENTS. (AUSTRALIAN. AKD N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 4th, 11.50 p.m.) NEW YOIIK, March 3The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says Senator Borah ' expects the Senate to take action on liis resolution for the recodification of international law governing the conduct of belligerents and neutrals in a maritime war during the present session, and the State Depart-, ment has intimated that the measure will be given serious attention if approved. It is pointed out that tii& American Government long since has been desirous of sucli an effort, buthesitated to make the proposal to the other Powers pending action by the League of Nations along the? same lines. It is felt here that Britain also is ready for codification and probably will participate in a conference for this purpose, but at present is still appraising the situation and is not yet prepared to chart a new course involving the basis of Anglo-American relations.

Senator Borah to-day declared that the real difficulty of agreeing with European nations on a multilateral treaty outlawing war lies in ten or twelve Fpecial alliances which have sprung up in Europe since the World War and are now supported by military conventions. He insisted that such a treaty would not bo at variance with the League covenant.