FOR WORLD PEACE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1928, Page 5

FOR WORLD PEACE.

SIGNING THE PACT. ITS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE ATTITUDE OF U.S.A. (British Offlctal Wireless.) RIUGtBY, Aug. 2s. Newspapers devote much space to descriptions of yesterday’s solemn act in Paris when the Peace .Pact was signed at the Quai d’Orsay by the plenipotentiaries of fifteen countries, and in the editorials high, hopes are based on the promise it offers for the future of world peace. The British .representatives at the ceremony, Lord Oushenduri, met a party after the signatures had been appended, and emphasised that the very signing of the pact was the most significant and im-presisve demonstration that had ever been made of the world’s earnest desire to maintain peace and to avoid war. It was a fact that by now we ought to have reached the stage in the world’s history ip which we could do without war, either as an instrument or as a national policy for the settlement of disputes. The pact would sutler only if it were burdened with an extravagant interpretation and, while nobody imagined that by the signing of this treaty war would be finally abolished, it should -have an incontestable moral effect.

. Referring to the attitude of Britain, which had been, somewhat wrongly represented’ in many quarters, Lord Uushendun said that the British 'Government had been in favour of the pact from the very first, hut it desired to be quite certain as to the exact meaning of what it was asked to sign. In this respect it had received full satisfaction in the correspondence exchanged. Discussing the ceremony, Lord Omshendun said that the presence of Dr. Stresem-ann, at the Qnai d’Orsa-y, seated next to the French Foreign Minister and signing a pact with, his former antagonists only ten years after the greatest war in history, had a significance which could not be lost upon the world. It was a two-fold act of coiir-, age. Not only was Dr. Stresemann actuated by the highest motives of statesmanship and political courage, but, in view of the state of his health, it was an act of .physical courage also. Discussing the attitude of the United State towards the pact. Lord Gnshendun declared that it was important that the people should realise that nothing Mr Kellogg had done or said in connection with the initiation and completion of the pact could be taken to imply any modification of the traditional American aloofness from European complications. The extent to which the United: States participated in European affairs was a matter for themselves, and this was in no way modified by the provision or circumstances, of the pact. Referring to the fact that he signed as the representative of the .Emperor of India as well of d-he Ring of Great Britain and the Dominions and colonies that were not represented on the League of Nations, Lord Oushendun said no people stood to benefit f i om the pact more than the people of India. whose country in -the past- hgd so often been subjected to devastation. MORE NATIONS ACCEPT. INVITATIONS TO SIXTY-FOUR. Received 10.25 a.m. WASHINGTON, Aug. 20. Administration circles have expressed considerable satisfaction at the •promptness with which Greece, Peru, Rumania, Jugo-Slavia and Denmark, have unofficially intimated their acceptance of Mr Kellogg’s peace treaty and the probability is that more will do 1 likewise in the near -future. Altogether sixty-four nations, comprising every country in the world with three’ minor exceptions, have been invited to! subscribe to the treaty, or have; already signed it.