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Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1929, Page 4

Tim Prime Minister, (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) has arrived in the United States with honors showered thick upon him. He leu> England under most favourable auspices, the position being altogether encouraging. Parties and press were alike at one in applauding the mission—a mission which had he survived the elections would have been taken by the ex-Pi'inre Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin). Good wishes were showered from all sides, "and it would appear Mr MacDonald will breathe rather a friendly atmosphere in the United States. The mission, according to Mr MacDonald’s own'declaration is to devise means for terminating the deadlock winch lias' existed hitherto, and prevented disarmament conferences reaching aii effective conclusion. He hopes to reach a definite understanding in regard to ship-building, and the limitation of armaments, and so prepare the way for a general Disarmament Conference to be summoned later by the League of Nations.; The mission, if successful, does not complete the whole business, though it will be a tremendous stride towards that end. The views of Japan, France and Italy, in particular, will still have to be considered. Japan is believed as likely to side with Great Britain, but there is evidence that both Franc and Italy look with suspicion on the negotiations. There is the alarmistfear so easily aroused among the Continental Powers df an Anglo-Saxon fusion, but a second’s thought would dear the minds of those so sceptical that Great Britain and the United States would be the last of the Powers to unite for any aggression on otner countries. The lesson of the Great War of Britain’s wonderful sacrifice for the world peace should have satisfied both France and Italy that England can be trusted in any and all emergency. There is some underlying fear that Britain and the United States; may combine to secure the do-; miriation of the sens and the control' of the world’s commerce. This of course is wild imagining oh the part of the pro-war parties in the countries referred to. There are bellicose factions in both France and Italy, and, it is easy for, them at all times to rise the sner-tre of an invasion and/so inflame the public mind. Let us hope that the meeting between Mr MacDonald and Mr Hoover in the coming week will clear the air definitelv as to the misgivings expressed, and that the goal for world peace may be in sight.