The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1925. PEACE IN OUR TIME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 October 1925, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1925. PEACE IN OUR TIME.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, lleremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Although the text of the Treaty of Locarno, occupying five columns in the large-sheet London papers, has been drastically summarised; for cabling, it may be accepted that the. maim points of the peace: .pact are covered by what appears in our news columns on the opposite page. Does it mean peace for Europe? None can say. Thei frontiers between Germany and France' and between Germany and (Belgium are declared inviolable; and Germany undertakes not to . make war on France, or Belgium- That will prevent war? Not necessarily. It will prevent war only as long as nations keep their word. The Belgian frontier was protected by treaty in 1914. But one. nation 1 in Europe chose to regard that treaty as a scrap of .paper; one nation broke its pledged word. And history has the knack of repeating itself. Should the Powers involved all confirm the provisions of the new treaty, however, the effect should be to make war much less probable. Germany struck her first blow eleven .years ago in the mistaken belief that Britain would not intervene.. Had the Prussian war party correctly divined .the future, the blow might never have been struck—certainly, not then. Under the Treaty of Locarno there can be no question of Britain’s attitude in the. event 1 of an unauthorised attack by Germany on Belgium, or by Belgium or France on Germany. Britain is committed to assist. the attacked people. Tliere are those who do not. care for the idea of this guarantee. ' They think Britain would be .much safer in the next street should any brawl arise. At the moment of intervention she might be, although it is generally admitted that we were fighting as much for our own safety as for that of Belgium when we went in last: time. But, in any case, individual safety cannot be allowed to rank first in a consideration of this question. With an armed madman abroad, the average citizen would be safer within his home; yet his responsibility to his own family and to the community demands that he assist in the. capture of the lunatic. The international [position -is similar. The new treaty seeks to brand war as a crime against civilisation, and it will be civilisation’s duty to bring, any offender to book. That is why Britain is guaranteeing European frontiers. While war remained in the eyes of the world as an unpleasant diversion rather than a crime, the. nations could be expected to« form a ring and leave, contending parties to battle it out themselves. Under those conditions wars were not' uncommon; two can quarrel very simply. Now, although misunderstandings. will arise still, the procednre is to be different. Germany, France and Belgium engage to settle their, differences by peaceful methods before tribunals or conciliation commissions; and in the event ofj any party finding a commission’s recommendations unacceptable the dispute must then be referred to the League of Nations. In short, every dispute liable to lead to war becomes the concern of all the Powers, and they insist on full and impartial investigation. When one party refuses to agree to this, but goes to war at once, the weight of the nations is to be, thrown into the scale against her. This practically means that no one country will be. so foolish. Legitimate war, assuming the. machinery of the treaty to function effectively, cannot result unless with the sanction of the League or when' tlie members of its council fail to agree. It will be seen that resort to arms is still possible, but, in view of the lapse of time demanded for arbitration proceedings, it- is made much less probable. It is sound advice to children that they should count ten before speaking when they feel a rash, remark on the. tip of the tongue, and national passions would often be soothed by a like delay. It remains to be seen whether this practice, will be adopted: in other words, whether the nations of Europe are as sincere in their wish for peace as the speeches of their delegates at Locarno have led the world to hope.