IMPRESSIVE MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 11

IMPRESSIVE MOVEMENT

BRIAND'S PROPOSAL EXTENSION ADVOCATED ' WASHINGTON, 30th May, Standing on one of the most sanguinary battlegrounds of the Civil War, namely, the field of Gettysburg, President Coolidge, at a memorial day celebration, expressed the earnest hope that the negotiations initiated by the American Government towards the outlawry of war might, bo crowned with success. The President referred to the proposal made in 1927 by M. Briand that Prance and the United States should sign a treaty condemning recourse to war and renouncing it as an instrument of national policy in mutual relations. President Coolidge said in part: ' (' During the eleven months that have since elapsed, this suggestion .has been developed into one of the most impressive peace movements the world has ever seen. The United States has accepted the principle underlying M. Briand 'a suggestion." He also advocated its extension so as to include within tho scope of the proposed treaty > not only Prance and the United States, but also Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, nnd any other nations, of- the world that might care to join, with these six Powers in the common renunciation of war. "Not only has the idea of a multilateral treaty,for the renunciation of war been endorsed by public opinion here and abroad, but the Governments themselves have approached the matter with an interest and sympathy which are most encouraging. War means the application of force: peace means the application of reason. War is complete lawlessness: peace is tho rule of law, and the principal ■ effort of civilisation after all is to bring the world under obedience to the law.'-'