THE DARKEST CLOUD

Evening Star, Issue 21232, 13 October 1932, Page 8

THE DARKEST CLOUD

ARCHBISHOP ON DISARMAMENT FAILURE PACTS WORTHLESS UNLESS FULLY HONOURED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 13. In bis charge to the Anglican Synod to-day, Archbishop Averfll said the darkest cloud upon the world’s horizon was the partial failure of the Disarmament Conference. While thankful for the work done at Lausanne in respect of reparations, could it be expected that there would be much alleviation or the war debts position so long as the nations refused to come to grips with the all-important question of armament reduction. The position of America seemed to him logical and reasonable, for how could she be expected to make a great sacrifice unless the other nations were prepared to meet her halfway by consenting to a real reduction in armaments and manifesting a real desire to fulfil treaty engagements. It was useless to endeavour to fix war guilt upon Germany for all time, and to perpetuate an open sore, if the other nations were hindering the consolidation of peace by refusing to honour their undertakings to limit armaments.

The Archbishop said that conferences and pacts were of little value unless backed up by the right national and individual spirit. It seemed to him that the League of Nations, in spite of all criticism, was the world’s greatest hope, and deserved the backing of all men and women of good-will.