Greymouth Evening Star. AND ERUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNE 9th., 1931. BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 June 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND ERUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNE 9th., 1931. BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY.

r J" r IIE firmer policy adopted by the British Government in foreign, affairs will be generally supported. Tn connection with the war debts Io U.S.A.. the decision to withhold I’urlher payments until the American altitude becomes; more reasonable. was overdue, and already there are signs that the desired effect will be ultimately secured. Britain has shown great sportsmanship in this matter, and although U.S.A.’s many present financial and other troubles do not help to induce concessions to others, a virtue will have to be made of necessity, <‘i compromise accepted. The war debt question being settled, world trade should revive, and the stabilisation of currency proceeded with. The practical gain to the U.S.A, will be more than the net amount she was ever likely to receive as war-debt payments. Britain’s more definite policy regarding disarmament is also helping to clear that issue. French susceptibilities are to be less a guid- . ing factor, although every attempt will he made to preserve Anglo- . French concord. Eyes cannot be ■ shut to the fact that French dip- .

lomney is working to achieve a grouping of nations on the Contincnl having for object the maintenance of a situation unacceptable to Germany, and one which must produce war in due course. Britain, with Italy and U.S.A., is endeavouring to induce France to be less implacable to her neighbour, hut so far with little success. Perseverance is worth while in this matter, as a complete failure of the Disarmament Conference will be 'the worst, blow the League of Nations could receive, a blow that may well prove fatal to the cause of world peace, from the consequences of which no country could escape.

RAILWAY AFFAIRS. TWO serious mishaps within a week on South Island railways, fortunately attended without loss of life or serious injury to passengers or crew, must arouse some misgiving in the public mind. Accidents cannot be altogether avoided even on the best regulated railways, and no question arises of the general safety of the Dominion railways transport. It is to be hoped, however, that the official inquiry will be thorough into the causes of the recent crashes, and

that more information than is usual with such affairs, will, be given to the public. Railway Department inquiries into- accidents on the line are regarded as a private matter, and as little to do with the public who have to pay the cost of the damage incurred, and whose safety may be jeopardised if anything is wrong with the system or material. The merits of the railways system do not lack continuous publicity. When things go wrong, there should be less secrecy. Another item of interest in connection with the railways is the decision of the Department to take over an important motor service. Some such step was long overdue, and the Board’s enterprise will be supported, except perhaps by those who see competition with themselves in the innovation. There is scope already for rail-motor combination services, as in time there will be for similar rail-aerial transport. A monopoly by the Railways Department regarding passenger transport is not to be encouraged, but enterprise to meet modern requirements deserves to be commended. One of these days, an inter-island rail-ferry steamer Departmental service may be available.