The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1937. A NEW PEACE MOVE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 10

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1937. A NEW PEACE MOVE

—♦ The public interest aroused in Europe by the disclosure of Mr George Lansbury’s discussion with Herr Hitler on the subject o German participation in a world conference on economic co-operation Sid mutual understanding suggests that the peoples genera y wou Hadlv welcome any movement conveying a promise ot reliet tro inZattoal tensions and fears of war Mr. Lansbury say rtaMhe more he saw and heard of people of other lands the mote comincea “was Stay all longed for peace. His impress,on ,s shared Jy many other witnesses, who agree also that this =dmg o be caoitalised bv systematic efforts. The chief ot t. - stitute for economic nationalism, economic co-operation. Economic rivalry is a poten? factor in fomenting those internationa irrita ions and tensions that lead to competitive arming and eventually to nai If as Mr. Lansbury asserts, Germany is wiling to & o to sucn a conference as has been suggested “with a good heart, then - thin" tangible in the direction of bringing that country once mon intoAhe international circle has been accomplished. It his statement that a favourable reception has been accoided similar XSs“ President of the United States and the Prem.er of France, Belgium, and the Scandinavian countries Ihe way has thus been opened for President Roosevelt to take the initiative in calling the conference. Mr. Lansbury seems a little doubtfid as to whether the President would consent, but if a recent Vi report to the New York Times that, he had such an idea int mindl is anywhere near the mark, his participation is not beyond the range of probabilities. Much will depend upon the weight ot public opinion that can be mobilised generally in favour of the proposal. At the same time it would be premature to bank on Germany final decision; even in the ?vent of a favourable decision on her willingness to approach the conference with a peifectly open, mind and in a spirit of compromise. Previous'experience of negotiatio . more or less similar in character has shown that. German diploma j is rather prone to attach conditions to participation in international conferences. On this occasion the German Government may insist that the colonial question must be included in the order of refeience. Thus there would be imposed upon the organisation of the conference an obstacle that might well be insuperable. As far as it is possible to read between the lines Herr Hitler has simply accepted the idea of particioation in principle. To ardent Socialist-pacifists. such as Mr. Lansbury all geese are swans. In the sphere of diplomatic realities agreement in principle does not necessarily constitute a definite undertaking. , It is conceivable, nevertheless, that Britain s intense activity, in rearmament may have influenced German thinking in the direction of abandoning, or at least modifying, “big-stick diplomacy; that the method of the fait accompli so successfully pursued in previous repudiations of treaty obligations cannot be continued without risks greatly multiplied by the increased strength of. the Anglo-French naval and military combination. The League machinery for peace by negotiation and the establishment of the rule of law has been for the time being abandoned, and both Britain and Fiance aie arming foi extreme contingencies. Defence is the item of first impoitance on the agenda of the approaching British Imperial Conference. The British Government has framed its future foreign policy on the principle that adequate defence is the best and the only effective means of forestalling war. This principle constitutes the lessons ot the Abyssinian experience and the German and Japanese treaty repudiations. It dominated our foreign policy before the Great War, and its abandonment as the result of Socialist idealism has weakened the mana of the British Commonwealth in the councils of Europe ever since. Now that Britain has renewed her strength proposals of the kind submitted by Mr; Lansbury are likely to be more impressive and acceptable than if coming from a nation weakened in its aimed resources and therefore liable to be suspected of seeking cheap security rather than of being actuated by high principles.