WORK FOR PEACE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 53, 26 November 1929, Page 11

WORK FOR PEACE

CO-OPERATION OF UNITED STATES PACT AGAINST WAR A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT MR. KELLOGG BANQUETED IN LONDON (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 23. Mr. F. B. Kellogg, formerly United States Secretary of State, was the guest of the Pilgrims’ Club in London at dinner last night. Viscount Cecil, proposing his health, said that Mr. Kellogg would surely go down to history as one of the most convinced advocates of peace that had ever directed the foreign policy of his country. The Kellogg Pact was a very great achievement. On this side we took the Pact very seriously. We recognised, however, that the great monster of war could not be killed by aspirations, however high and holy they might be. It would only be destroyed by hard work and, if necessary, great sacrifice. This was why we welcomed so enthusiastically the comradeship of Mr. Kellogg’s great country. “He will remember the profound feeling of relief all felt in this country when the United States decided to come into the war,” Lord Cecil continued. “The feeling of some of us has been the .same during the last few months. There was a time after the war when the United States almost appeared to withdraw from the movement for peace. From the time of your Secretaryship of State it has been clear that she is once again in the van of contest. We are already engaged in hopeful negotiations on the Naval question. In another two months the result will be laid before the Five-Power Conference. Let us hope that the negotiations will form a basis for a further advance, and that very soon we may rejoice in the knowledge that the naval part of the problem is in a fair way to settlement. That will be' a great thing. But it is only the first part. Land and air remain to be dealt with. Here, too, we hope for your help, though you are principally concerned with the sea in this matter. But peace is one whole. Wherever and however it is broken, the whole structure is in danger. And, indeed, in some ways armies and air forces are more dangerous to peace than navies. Let us, then, not slacken in our efforts.”

Mr. Kellogg’s Reply. Mr. Kellogg, in the course of his reply, said: “There should be such a reduction of armaments as will prevent the use of navies and armies for anything but national protection. In reduction of armaments there is perfect safety. No one or two nations are going to be able to dominate the world. Control of the seas is now impossible. Security of the world can only be obtained by mutual consideration, confidence, and the advancement of the pacific settlement of their disputes.” . It had been evident for- a long time, he continued, that one of the problems difficult of solution was the relative armament between Great Britain and the United States. He was convinced that there would be no reduction of armament if questions were approached from the basis of the possibility of war between Great Britain and the United States. Mr. Kellogg added: “While I realise that as a political and practical necessity parity between our navies is necessary, I am convinced that war between them is impossible. And what I say as to the impossibility of war between the United States and Great Britain applies to the United States and other Great European Powers.” Mr. Kellogg set forth some lines of a further advance which he thought should supplement the Peace Pact. (1) The education of popular . opinion in peace ideals, especially by churches, colleges, commercial bodies, and civic organisations. (2) The advancement and extension of conciliation and arbitration and the judicial settlement of disputes; and (3) The limitation of armaments and the prevention of any competition such as might lead to war. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT ITALY REQUESTS PARITY WITH FRANCE (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec. November 25, 7.15 p.m.) Paris, November 25. An important development has occurred in the Franco-Italian conversations preliminary to the Five-Power Conference. # M. Briand has received a Note from the Italian Ambassador requesting absolute naval parity with France. The request is being carefully considered. It is understood that the Government is unfavourable to parity and to the abolition of submarines.

PARITY NOT ACCEPTABLE TO FRANCE (Rec. November 25, 11.25 p.m.) Paris, November 25. M. Georges Leygues, Minister of the Navy, states that France will never accept naval parity with Italy, as Italy demands in the Note received from the Italian Ambassador. M. Leygues added that France hopes to continue the naval conversations with Italy, but. will never admit parity or abolition of submarines. As the Italian Note makes France’s acceptance of the thesis of parity a foremost condition, the continuation of the negotiations is doubtful. CONFERENCE TO MEET IN ST. JAMES’S PALACE London, November 24. The King has placed St. James’s Palace at the disposal of the Government for the Naval Conference. SINGAPORE BASE DECLARED ESSENTIAL BY LORD JELLICOE London, November 24. All the naval authorities agree that the Singapore Base is essential, Lord Jellicoe told a “Sun” representative.

Naval reduction may mean a base on rather smaller lines than those originally proposed. Lord Jellicoe was confident that Australia and New Zealand resented the proposal for abandonment, or seriously postponing completion, in which they were most justified, as the base was absolutely necessary for the protection of the interests of the Empire in the Pacific.