BRIAND IN FORM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 222, 6 September 1929, Page 5

BRIAND IN FORM

REMARKABLE SPEECH LEAGUE OF NATIONS ASSEMBLY THE HAGUE SETTLEMENT. [United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) [Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) (Received 6, 11-15 a.m.) Geneva, Sept. 5. M. Briand concluded what is described as one of the most remarkable speeches ever delivered in the assembly, for which ho was freely applauded and finally accorded an ovation. He said that The Hague settlement had established an atmosphere of confidence, enabling the settlement of other problems. The League’s moral force had now been established— since Locarno, war had been taken by the throat and pilloried. He was confident that an agreement would be readied on the problem of security and also on disarmament as soon as Anglo-American naval agreement had been reached. He was confident of agreement between the naval powers. THE OPTIONAL CLAUSE. Referring to the optional clause, he said that the Rt. Hon. Ramsay MacDonald had announced that Britain was ready to sign. This was a very great event, over which we could not rejoice too much. The League, in addition to denouncing war as a hideous crime, must fulfil its obligations by abolishing it. The League should possess a secular arm in order to punish the crime of war. M. Briand added that the optional clause must be followed by an Arbitration treaty—France could sign such a treaty. He pledged himself to make everv effort to secure ratification.