KING’S PLEA FOR PEACE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 3 October 1936, Page 10

KING’S PLEA FOR PEACE

ORIGINALITY AND COURAGE Kings have often praised peace, but Edward VIII is probably the first King to make a military pageant the occasion of demanding peace m the name of humanity, writes “Scrutator” in the “Sunday’s Times,” in comment on the King’s speech to his Guards on the occasion of the presentation of new Colours. The moie one thinks of the speech and its occasion, the more impressive it becomes. U was one of those breaches of convention which are possible only to a King who has enough originality and courage to express what he knows is in the heart of his people. “Humanity,” he said, “cries out for peace and the assurance of peace. Are we on the right way to peace? asks “Scrutator.” Our true policy of peace is to make it clear to the world what we are willing to do and what .we. are not, to encourage by every ; means in our power those forces in Germany which have made the recon- ; ciliation with Austria. We are to ne- : gotiate a new Locarno with Germany. ! If negotiation is to be, let it be negotiation on a footing of complete and frank equality, moral and political. Let us not prolong the “war guilt” clause into our diplomacy. And if Germany is to be received into the League, let the League begin by completely dissociating its hopes of a future reign of law from a law which was founded on force and on a humiliating defeat.