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Evening Star, Issue 14554, 1 May 1911, Page 4

TiiKi-.K are no more cordial supporters of and strong sympathisers The Progress with the overtures and Of Peace negotiations now being

made on behalf of International Peace than,tho organisations and individuals who have consistently urged upon the people and Government of the United Kingdom the need for being prepared for war. Any practicable and effective scheme for modifying tho chances of international conflict is always certain of the approval of those thoughtful men and women who, whilo hating war and all it connotes, maintain that there is no greater provocation t'> the lust of conquest than the unpreparedness of tho nation whoso territory or wealth or supremacy is coveted. Hence, tho proposed Treaty between the United States of America and the United Kingdom has been welcomed bv the Unionist Opposition in the Imperial Parliament, and by its accomplished and popular Leader, Mr Balfour, with a fervency and sincerity equal to that of tho mora reserved and stable section of the Government following. Wo believe that the fact that Mr Balfour stood on the same public platform with and seconded a resolution moved by the Prime Minister (Mr Asquith) will do more towards tho realisation of tho dreams of the visionary than.all tho tomewhat irritating denunciami* appeals of the most persistent of the many ill-balanced advocates of peace at aiiy price. Not tho least commendable phas!*, in our judgment, of the present Anglo-American movement, which wo hope to see crowned with success, is tho recognition of the truth that no Treaty between the two Anglo-Saxon-speaking communities can relieve tho Motherland from her duty of ceaseless vigilance and adequate preparations against possible eventualities. To wipe out war as a means of settling any and every dispute that may and will arise between* the United State* and Great Britain does not mean that the Homo Government can discard the sword, cease building battleships, and close their eyes in happy content to everything that is happening elsewhere. " Yet, while this is so, we can at the samo time agree with Sir Edward Grey that the moral influence and effect of a British-American Treaty of universal arbitration upon the rest of mankind must prove of benefit to the world, and most probably lead to similar treaties between other nations. Germany, of course, is the Power that everybody has

in his mind's ©yeor latent in his thoughts in this relation; and Germany, officially, .is a hard nub to crack. There 'is nobody speaking with authority in Germany expressing, a desire- to put away the arbitrament of war for that of a judgment in a low court. But vast numbers of the German people, there is overy reason to think, would wekomo an official lead towards the establishment of International Peace by other means than those of war. Less than three months ago Dr Harnack and Dr Spiecker, in the Queen's Hall, London, before a vast audience, over whom the Archbishop of Canterbury presided, spoke as the delegates of a peace mission from Germany. On that occasion His Grace quoted from the. German hymn of Lowenslein, so frequently sung in our local churches, the words: Grant peace on earth, and, after wo have striven, Peace in thy Heaven.

Last week, also, at an Anglo-German meeting, it was announced by a Munich professor, and subsequently confirmed by the Lord Chancellor (Lord Loreburn), that 6ome sort of friendly interchange of views was proceeding between the Governments of Great Britain and Germany with a view to a diminution of armaments. All this is to tho good and happiness and peaco of the world. These overtures and rapprochements constituto the brightest spot in a heavy and lowering sky. For months and months tho cry has been of possible war, and tho piling up of costly armaments, and tho seeming inovitableneas of sanguinary conflict. Tho sigh of relief with which all men and women have greeted tho possibility of a no-war treaty between tho Old Land and tho great Republic indicates the measure of their desire that some such treaty should bo formulated and approved. We hope that these anticipations will not be disappointed. Fourteen years ago last January tho late Queen Victoria, in tho words of tho Speech from tho Throne, expressed her deep eenso of gratification that a Treaty had been concluded with the President of the United States for the peaceful adjustment of all differences. .That Treaty, though approved by the United States Government and a section of the people, failed to secure the approval of tho Semite. Since then, however, much has happened. There is a changed tone, and a changed spirit is abroad.

Tho hour of Peaco is come! The nations From East to West havo heard n cry. Treaties havo becomo popular. Each and every Power is making them—Great Britain mast of all. But no treaty so far has proposed to do what Sir Edward Grey and President Taft now propose—viz., to abolish war even as a remote alternative. Therefore the cry has become a prayer for its consummation.