The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1924. THE LONDON CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 July 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1924. THE LONDON CONFERENCE.

Delivered every evening by B o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, N'‘rrnanby. Okaiawa, Bit bam, Mangatcki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeiio Manutahi, Alton, Hnrleyville, Pateo, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakarnara, Obangai. Meremere. Fraser Road. and

British people regard the Empire as existing for the good of the world, and they look with pride upon the great work which the nation lias done during the years of the Empire’s existence. The British have shown that, they are the best colonisers in the world, and through their efforts about a quarter of the land area of the globe has been brought within the Empire, and to-day the overseas British countries enjoy the privileges and benefits of thoroughly democratic government. The Dominions have developed very rapidly during the last fifty years, and there is no doubt but that they will continue to grow in importance under the systems of government which they enjoy. One thing common to all parts of the Empire is the desire for peace. Over and over again that desire is

expressed by leading men and women, and tliere is a marked hatred of Avar. Every effort was made by Lord (then Sir Edward) Grey to induce Germany not to force Europe into the awful conflict, and during the latter part of July ten years ago cA'erv possible effort was made by Britain to maintain peace. But it. was hopeless; Germany was determined to have her Avav and the British Empire had to accept the challenge. Since her defeat Germany has suffered severely and her economic position is reported as being very bad. In trying to bring Europe under her heel Germany Avrecked herself, and many, of the nations were also seriously injured. Had the British efforts for peace in 1914 been successful the world would have been saved an enormous loss, and Europe would have been in a far different condition at the present time. The problem now is to find the way to restore Europe and insure a lasting peace. Mr Llpyd George, Mr Bonar Law and Mr Stanley Baldwin tried very hard to find that way. and at the present time Mr Ramsay MacDonald is struggling with the problem. Each of these leaders hhs had the full support of the people of the Empire, and as each has set out his proposals the onlooker has hoped that, in spite of previous failures, on this occasion they would) .succeed So it is again. Tens of thousands of British people have read the reports of the preparations for the Conference in London; M. Herriot’s visit to London; Mr MacDonald’s journey to Paris. One does not think of party or political colour; that matters very little, for far more important is it. that a solution of Europe’s problems, which are having such serious effects upon the world, should be found. British people want the nations to come to a definite understanding with regard to reparations. They hold that, Germany should be made to pay fair demands, but they do not believe in the French Nationalist. method of coercion, which leads to bitterness and encourages the spirit of revenge. They also believe that as long as Germany remains in a bad economic state the other nations Avill suffer from the effects, and therefore it, is necessary that she should be helped to return to a healthier condition. But above all British citizens desire that whatever is done it should be in the direction of encouraging peaceful relationships among the nations and that anything -which might lead to bitterness should be avoided. It is in this spirit, as it was-with his predecessors in office, that Mr MacDonald has called the Conference which met in London on Wednesday. To what extent the Conference will prove successful depends upon the attitude of the Continental nations towards the problems and towards .each other. Let us hope that their representatives are filled wjth determination to solve the problems in a spirit of goodwill and justice, and that they will be inspired by the manifest genius for peacemaking of the British Empire to come to a definite agreement upon the questions which have in the past caused so much trouble and have strained . British and French friendship almost to breaking point. If the Conference fails it is thought by people who have followed the course of events closely that it will he the end of coherent efforts ,by the Allies to arrive at a. settlement, and that the future will he by no means bright for the nations of Europe.