FEDERATED EUROPE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 September 1930, Page 9

FEDERATED EUROPE

LATE EDITION

M. BRIAND’S PROPOSAL

SCHEME OUTLINED TO LEAGUE

STEP TOWARDS WORLD PEACE

(British Official Wireless.) Received 12.15 p.m. to-day. 11 LG BY, Sept. 11

At the League Assembly at Geneva to-day M. Briand, addressing the gathering on his European federation scheme, said that all the countries which had replied to his questionnaire were favourable to the principle of a federation of Europe. It was logical, said M. Briand, that the countries which had suffered most from the recent war should work together to prevent another war. No conclusion had so far been reached save that some sort of federation was necessary.

M. Briand said there were many obstacles in the way of disarmament, but many had been surmounted already so far •as France was concerned. It would not have been possible, to reduce armaments in the way they had done if the League had not paved the way to security.

He recalled the work of the London Conference and said that as Foreign JLinister he was in touch with neighwring friendly nations and hoped that accord would be reached which would complete the London agreements.

The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. A. Henderson, in referring to M. Briand’s speceli, said that the closest collaboration of European Governments was vitally important to European peace. The British Government had stated its opinion in reply to the questionnaire and had expressed its great sympathy with the proposal. "Whatever developed from the discussion of the scheme, the British Government hoped it would he carried into effect in collaboration with the League and would be consistent with the international obligations of League members and would help to forward the League’s disarmament policy. Mr. Henderson said that the British Government heartily supported the majority report of the committee on the reorganisation of the League Secretariat and hoped it would be unanimously adopted. He also hoped that the optional clause would be universally adopted, because he regarded it as the first step towards the settlement of all questions by peaceable methods. Mr. Henderson maintained that of all security measures disarmament was the most important, and he trusted that further progress would be made this year. The authors of the Covenant never believed that disarmament could be achieved if national armaments remained unrestricted.

Mi-. Henderson emphasised that Britain and her Dominions had already ratified the optional cluase. One of the chief tasks of the. Imperial Conference would be to consider what further contribution various members qf the British Commonwealth would make in. the cause of dsarmament and world peace, peace.