EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 December 1925, Page 5

EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY

SPIRIT OF LOCARNO. ADVENT OF PEACE ERA SENTIMENTS OF DELEGATES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Dec. I. Using special!. pens, which they will keep as mementoes of the occasion, the delegates of thie Ailed Powers and Germany to-day appended their signatures to the “Treaty of Mutual Guarantee,” which is the official title of the Locarno Pact. Sir Austen Chamberlain ('Minister for Foreign Affairs), who, with the Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin) signed on behalf of Britain, used a pen in the form of a gold quill, the gift of the British delegates to Locarno. In opening the ceremony Sir Austen Chamberlain (Minister for Foreign Affairs) .regretted the absence of Signor Mussolini (Prime Minister of Italy). Sir Austen said that Locarno, while strengthening former friendships, had been .the basis of reconciliation with Germany, “a reconciliation which we are convinced will assure to us henceforth yet another friend.” “We are fully aware that there is much etilil. to be done in order that our hopes may be realised,” continued Sir Austen. “We shall meet many difficulties, prejudices and suspicions, but Britain is umshakealbly resolved to pursue the work of pacification in the same spirit which inspired our negotiations at Locarno. Having put our hand to the plough we shall not look hack. Britain will do everything in her power to ensure a successful issue to her labours, to 'bury the hatreds and suspicions of the past, and to .spare future generations a repetition of the misfortunes and sufferings of which i the world to-day has been a witness and a victim.” M. Briand (Premier of France) said : “I. consider my association with Locarno the most important and moving act of my already, long political life. I received a touching letter from an unknown peasant woman. She, wrote : ‘Allow the mother of a family to congratulate you. At last I .shall be able to look at my children without .apprehension, and love them with some security. ’ . , “However.” continued M. Briand. “it is not the finst time that the nations have assembled seeking security agreements. Former agreements were but flimsy safeguards against war, bristling with, difficulties and anxieties like gloomy clouds charged with electricity, which carry thunder in their womb. The Locarno Treaty, just consecrated by our signatures, embodies an encouraging innovation, inasmuch ais from it emanates another spirit, namely, .solidarity, replacing distrust and .suspicion. It does not hope to render war impossible by the accumulation of strength but by the bonds ol mutual assistance and human solidarity. “Opposite me sib the German delegates,” added M. Briand. “That does nob mean thatf I do not remain a good Frenchman ais they remain good Germans, .but irt the light of these treaties we are Europeans only. By our .signatures we declare for peace, blotting out national antagonisms and banishing unpleasant memories. The Locarno Treaty will be of small value, it will be frail and disappointing, unless it constitutes a European family within the League of Nations. “To-day’s treaty is worth while,” said M. Briand, “if it means that the massacre of the flower of the nations’ youth is ended, preventing women’s brows from being overcast by fresh gloom, stopping the devastating ravishment of countrysides and the mutilation of men. K ~ “Our nations during centuries have often been in conflict on bloody battlefields, showing equal heroism. Now we must collaborate in the common labour of peace, discovering in this phase of human activity opportunities of emulation no less glorious. “As the spokesman for the immense majority of my compatriots,” M. Briand concluded: “i solemnly declare that it is in this spirit I sign the treaties from which we are determined to extract everything that can provide against war and in favour of peace. _ I see therein the beginning of a magnificent work for the renewal of Europe, creating a general union in which all nations are invited to participate according to their individual qualifications, ensuring a definite, peace and permitting the consecration there of allegiance and' genius to a steady advance on the road of progress. I ardently hope the Locarno agreements will fulfil all promises, and that the germs therein may develop to bring peace.” At the beginning of his speech Dr. Luther (Chancellor of Germany) expressed the sympathy of all nations re- . presented at Queen Alexandra’s loss to fhe British Empire and to the Royal Family. All welcomed' wholeheartedly the King’s conviction that Locarno would he a work of pacification and reconciliation as the foundation of real friendship between the nations now represented, and assured His Majesty that it was a call to peace that peoples so urgently needed as the basis of recovery.

Dr. Luther earnestly hoped that Sir Austen Chamberlain’s 1 wishes would he fulfilled, more especially as regards the relations between Germany and the other nations represented. .All. peoples must unite to relegate prejudices and mistrust to the past, and thus open the way to future development, in which all must collaborate. “The fact is,” said Dr. Luther, “that districts of my Fatherland have still to suffer the consequences of war. There must also be an end to this within a measurable period. Likewise the feelings of mistrust which we desire mutually to renounce are even more important than the contents of the. treaty,' which denote a new world relationship. There must be unity of purpose to work peacefully together. Germany gladly once more identifies herself with this work in harmony with her urerious attitude and own initiative, hoping it will result in the co-operation of all the peonies here assembled.” Dr. von Stresemanu (German Minister Tor Foreign Affairs) drew attention to the informal Locarno conference. and emphasised the fact that Britain’s centuries of political experience had proved that unwritten laws tvevc better than, stiff formulae. He paid a tribute to Sir Austen Chamberlain’s tact, amiability and determination to achieve a successful issue. The treaty did uot. represent a juridical construction of political ideas, hut the basis of the great -future development of nations professing the determination that they were prepared to satisfy humanity’s longing for peace and conr°Tf the nact were merely a bundle of paragraphs. Dr. von Stresemanu said, it would not survive. It couhl only become a reality if the rleterminatmn existed to create new conditions in Europe. “While remaining good Frenchmen, good Englishmen and good Germans,

each must secondly be a citizen of Europe,” added von Stresemann. ‘We have the right to speak of the European idea.. This Europe of ours made the largest sacrifices during the world war, and a. community of fate hinds us together. We can rise only by working together. Therefore we cannot afford to live in discord and enmity, but must join hands. Mayb e later generations will have reason to think gratefully m to-day as the beginning of a new epoch.” Signor Scialoga (Italy) said that although Italy had no immediate interests, she gladly signed, realising that the foundations were being laid of a great collective work for the continuity of European civilisation. Signor Scialoga explained that Signor Mussolini was absent because he was personally directing several Ministerial departments. He regretted bis inability to attend, because be personally had initialled the documents at Locarno, emphasising his belief that the treaties were destined to he the basis of new relations between European States and were inspired by the broad spirit of conciliation and mutual confidence. Italy was proud to participate in the great peace work and give her disinterested guarantee with the so'e object of opening an era of fraternity between nations.

M. Vanclervelde (Premier of Belgium) said that for. centuries Belgium bad been the battleground for rival ambitions. She wished to become a link in tlie harmonious chain of nations. He added : “May a new era be dated from to-day in which the nations which suffered from war’s scourge shal : work together in mutual confidence and prepare by the disarmament of their hearts for the disarmament of their hands.” M. Benes (Czecho-,Slovakia ) said: “Treaties of themselves do not possess miraculous powers. Thev will only he what the signatories make of them. Czecho-S'ovakia. will be proud to collaborate.”

M. Skrzynski (Poland) said the.spirit of Locarno should henceforth be called the spirit of London. He expressed the hope that the agreements signed that day' would live in spirit and in letter; a'.so that the great guardian minds who presided at their inception will be able to ’watch over their future development. “We render homage to Britain’s nobility, loyalty and honesty,’ be said. ‘‘She will be remembered as the powerful artisan of a great work which future generations will bless. Sir Joseph Cook (High Commissioner for Australia), referring to his pride in participating in the ceremony, said that although Australia had not signed the pact, Britain’s signature was a guarantee on behalf of the whole Empire that every Dominion and every colony under the British flag was eager to participate in the promotion of permanent European peace, which would necessarily react to the promotion of the interests of the Dominions “and the colonies.

Sir. James Allen (High Commissioner for New Zealand) said the event was the beginning of a new era of peace in Europe, in which New Zea’and was glad to- participate, even in the humble capacity of spectator. To-day’ s experience was the most unique during his tenure of office. NUMEROUS EDITORIALS. (Received Dec. 3, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2. The signing of the Locarno Treaties is the theme of editorials in most newspapers. some of which published whole or half-page pictures of the historic scene in the Foreign Office, also photographs of the signatures.—Reuter.