MUTUAL HELP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 July 1924, Page 5

MUTUAL HELP

DEBATE IN LORDS. SUPPORT FOR THE LEAGUE. SPEECH BY LORD GREY. ST CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— OOPYBIGHT LONDON. July 24. Lord Grey of Faßoden initiated an important debate in tfie House of Lords regarding the Government's rejection or the pact for mutual assistance. He insisted that Britain ought to give more-reality to. the League of Nations and make clear that she was prepared to use her strength to. upnold tire League covenant in future disputes.

“We are niaking no progress towards a. sense of security,” said Lord Grey, “but are 1 making an advance towards competition in armaments. It is impossible to hold out hones of preventing the growth of armaments unless a. scheme is evolved which the Dominions can support.” Lord Grey added that he would likd the Dominions to be consulted as to whether in future disputes Britain should be prepared to use all her strength, not on the merits of any dispute, but on behalf of the covenant of the League. Continuing, Lord Grey said the policy of isolation for \ Britain would be the policy of certain catastrophe. Lord Parmoor (Lord President o>f the Council) replied that the Government was fully alive to the necessity for disarmament, which was the essence of the Government’s policy, but all. the Dominions except the Irish Free State were opposed to a treaty of mutual assistance. It was not possible for the Government to pledge itself to any measure to which tha Dominions were opposed, and it was impossible to carry out any policy of 1 disarmament unless it had the united loyalty of the Dominions. Without pre-arranged military plans, the scheme of mutual assistance would "be a farce and a delusion. Lord Cecil said if force were not contemplated against a nation which was determined to break the peace of the world there could be no faith in the League. He asked what Britain was going to do at Geneva. . Lord Balfour said the letter of the Premier (Mr Ramsay MacDonald), which proposed an assembly of all nations in connection with disarmament, was an illusory proposition which would end in a wrangle, but he also was doubtful of the value of a treaty of mutual assistance, Lord Grey’s motion was withdrawn. A message from London on July 21 said a sensation had been created among supporters of the League of Nations owing to the Premier (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) writing to Sir Eric Drummond (General Secretary of the League), saying: “It is impossible to lend military aid to any signatory State in case of aggression. Britain cannot afford to act as the world’s policeman, even if the whistle is blown ?.t Geneva.”