ANTI-WAR PROPOSALS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 May 1928, Page 5

ANTI-WAR PROPOSALS

ENCOURAGING RECEPTION.

INTEREST AND SYMPATHY.

ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENTS.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WASHINGTON, May 30., Standing -on one of the most sanguinary battlegrounds of the Civil War, namely, ■ the field of Gettysburg, President Coolidge at the Memorial Day celebrations expressed his earnest hope that the negotiations initiated hy the American Government towards the outlawry of war might be crowned] with success.

The President- referred to the proposal mad© in 1927 by M. Briand that France and the United States sign a treaty condemning recourse to war and' renouncing it as an instrument of national policy* in their mutual relactions.

Air. - Coolidge said, inter alia: “During the 11 months that have sin®e elapsed this suggestion - has been developed into one of the most impressive peace movements the world has ever seen. The United States had accepted the principle underlying M. Brland’s suggestion*” He also advocated its extension so as to include within the scope of the proposed treaty not only France and the United States, but also Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and any other nations in the world that might care to join with these six Powers in a common renunciation of war. The President continued: “Not only has the idea of a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war been - endorsed by public opinion here and) abroad, but the Governments themselves have approached the matter with an interest- and sympathy which is most- encouraging. War means the application of force. Peace means the application of reason. War is complete lawlessness. . Peace is the rule of law, and the principle effort- of civilisation, after all, is to bring the .world under obedience to law.” ' - ' ■

DEFINITE PROPOSALS TO BE MADE. NOTE FROM AMERICAN GOVERN- ■ ment. WASHINGTON, May 30. Definite proposals to ' the world Powers that- they subscribe to a multilateral treaty renouncing war -is expected to be made by Mr. Kellogg in aii identical Note now under preparation and likely to go forward to the various Foreign Offices next week. It is understood it will, set forth a * draft of a- treaty to which it is believed the Powers can * subscribe. It will be drawn, according to. arc authoritative forecast , to meet the fundamental ideal of Mr. Kellogg for a simple, unqualified renunciation of war and a-t the same time conform to the viewpoint of the Powers as expressed in the diplomat)" exchanges recently conducted.

A Note will be sent to Great- Britain and the Dominions; France, Italy, and- Japan. It- is intimated that Mr. Kellogg will disclose thei'ein that lie has found the nations generally in accord with his proposition and invites their adherence on dhat ba.sis. Two safeguards, one assuring the right of self-defence- and the other guaranteeing such peace pacts as those of Locarno .and the League of Nations against ; abridgment, 1 ' it is generally assumed will lie formally recognised. The disposition of Mr. Kellogg will be to leave the language of his original draft treaty unchanged, sothat its two articles- will set forth aJ clear, unqualified, renunciation of war, with interpretations left to other*:-de-vices.