ANTI-WAR PACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1928, Page 6

ANTI-WAR PACT

MR. COOLIDGE’S SPEECH. (Australia Press Association.) <By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, May 30. Standing on one of the most sanguinary battlegrounds of the Civil War, namely the field of President Coolidge, at the Memorial Day Celebration, expressed his earnest hope that the negotiations initiated by the American Government towards the outlawry of war might be crowned with success. The President referred to the proposal made in 1927 by M. Briand that France and the United States should sign a treaty condemning recourse to war, and renouncing it as an instrument of national policy in their mutual relations. Continuing, President Coolidge said, in part: “During the 11 months that have since elapsed, this suggestion has been developed into one of the most impressive peace movements that the world has ever seen.” The United States had accepted the principle underlying M. Briand’s suggestion, and ho also advocated its'’extension so as to include within the scope of the proposed treaty, not only France and the United States, but also Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan and any other nations in the world that might care to join with these six powers in a 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 mat- •; ter 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 the rule of law; and the principal effort , of civilisation,, after all, is to bring the world under obedience to law.”

WORLD-WIDE TREATY. WASHINGTON, May 30. A definite proposal to the world Powers that they subscribe to a multilaterial Treaty renouncing war is expected to be made by Mr Kellogg (Secretary of State) in an identic note that is now under preparation, and is likely to go forward to the various Foreign Offices next week. It is. understood that the nptS will set forth the draft of a Treaty to which it is believed, the Powers can subscribe. It will be drawn, according to an authoritative forecast, to meet the fundamental idea of Mr Kellogg for a simple and unqualified re# nunciation of war, and, at the same time, will conform to the viewpoint of the Powers as expressed in the diplomatic exchanges recently conducted.

The Note will be sent to Britain and the British Dominions, and to France, Italy and Japan. It is intimated that Mr Kellogg will disclose therein that he has found the nations generally in accord with his

proposition, and that he invites their adherence on that basis. Two safeguards—one assuring the right of self defence; and the other guaranteeing such peace pacts as those of Locarno and the League of Nations—against the abridgement of the Treaty, it is generally assumed, will be formally recognised. The disposition of Mr Kellogg will be to leave the language of his original draft treaty unchanged, so that its two articles wil Iset forth a clear, unqualified renunciation of war, with the interpretations left to otherdevices.