LESSONS OF GENEVA

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 9

LESSONS OF GENEVA

SIR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN HOPEFUL AGAIN WORK OF LOCARNO EMERGES STRENGTHENED ' ' ■ ■ i . ■ • Sir Austen Chamberlain is hopeful again respecting the future of the League of Nations. The recent setback at Geneva, he says, though unfortunate, had neither the inx evitableness nor the finality of true tragedy; it was only a momentary check.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. copyright.

London, March 25

The Foreign Minister (Sir Austen Chamberlain) received the Freedom of the city. The Prime Minister (Mr. S. Baldwin), the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. W. Churchill), the Dornin, icn Secretary. (Mr L. Amery), the High Commissioners for the Dominions and India, and nine Ambassadors were among those present. Sir Austen Chamberlain, who was given an ovation, claimed that, the work of Locarno had emerged not merely unharmed, but strengthened from Geneva. He did not doubt that with good-will the difficulty of reconciling the rights of each democracy in its own country with the spirit of the League could be 'solved. —Reuter. Referring to the Locarno Peace Pact, he reminded his hearers that two great far-seeing German statesmen took the first step in the path to Locarno. Dealing with the results of the Geneva Conference lie said: “I think z that during the bitterness of the first disappointment I used exaggerated language, for the event, though unfortunate, had neither the inevitableness nor the finality of true tragedy. Such a setback was not surprising when one remembers that the League is in its infancy, but it is only a momentary check due to eXterioi circumstances,. We should not expect as much from the young League as we may hope when it reaches its maturity.” . Foreign affairs, he added, which formerly were a mystery known to few, are now everybody’s business. . Democracy’s claims’ for information sometimes clashed with the League’s work. Unless the rights of democracy were wisely used, the result of the Geneva Conference might be a repetition of the old story of irreconcilable claims instead of opening a new chapter of conciliation.—Svdney “Sun” Cable.

Sir Austen Chamberlain concluded by saying: x ‘Tf anything could make this hour dearer and more precious, it is the belief that I have followed in the tootsteps of my dear father, and that as the result of the work in which I have been engaged I have repaid some of the debt I owed him in the way dearest to his heart.”

Mr. Baldwin, in proposing Sir Austen Chamberlain’s health, said as - Sir Austen’s father’s name was connected with the consolidation of the Empire so Sir Austen’s would perpetually have a foremost place in the ranks of those who sought to bring peace to Europe.'

Nobody bad done more to advance the League of Nations’ interests.—Reuter. NEW' YORK PRESS OPINION '"A HOLLOW VICTORY” ’ New York, March 25. The newspapers generally regard Sir Austen Chamberlain’s vindication as a hollow victory, excepting the “New York Times,” which says that Sir Austen Chamberlain did much to blow away the fog of suspicion which gathered around what was done at Geneva. Little by little the whole atmosphere of doubt and suspicion, which was artificially created, has been cleared. The “New York Herald-Tribune,” on the contrary, says that Sir Austen Chamberlain won a Parliamentary triumph, but the public is as baffled as it was before Mr Lloyd George attempted to probe the mystery. The “Morning World” says that it is probable even within the Unionist Party that some doubt exists as to whether the whole story has been told. The “Evening World,” heading a leader “Sir Austen’s Doubtful Victory,” says that his speech was more wordy than weighty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EFFECT IN GERMANY GOVERNMENT’S POSITION STRENGTHENED London, March 25. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that the Reichstag debate proved that the Nationalists, who counted on returning to office after Germany’s entry into the League, will be forced to remain a long time in opposition, because Coalition support has placed the Government more strongly in the saddle. Moreover, the fact that 12J million voters approved of the expropriation of princely houses indicates a marked movement to the Republican Left, increasing the Nationalists’ fears of a general election. Count di Biaanco, the new Italian Ambassador, presented his credentials and took the opportunity of formally closing the Tyrol controversy, expressing the opinion that there was no fundamental clash between Italian and German interests.—“ The Times.”