A NEW EPOCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11129, 8 February 1922, Page 6

A NEW EPOCH

IN HUMAN PROGRESS PRESIDENT’S SPEECH AT WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. FINAL SCENES BEING ENACTED. By Telegraph —Press Aien.—Coryright (Australian P.A. Special.) W ASHIN'GTON, February 6. The final session of the Washington Conference- was called to order at, 10 o’clock, and the various delegations immediately prooeedted to sign the treaties. The representatives of the various nations in alphabetical order signed all the treaties simultaneously. flr Balfour, Lord Lee, Sir Auckland Geddes, and the Dominion representatives were heartily applauded as they marched to the table. Mr Balfour signed twice, the second time for South Africa, Kineniatograph cameras recorded the ceremony. President HaTding, addressing the Conference, recalled the lie had expressed in welcoming the delegate? three months ago, and declared that it was one of the supreme compensations of life to contemplate tlieir worthy accomplishment. “I offer the thanks of our nation and our people. Perhaps I dare volunteer and dare utter them for the world. “I will say, with every confidence, that the faith plighted here to-day will be kept in national honour, and will mark the beginning of a new and better epoch in human progress, in revealing the light of the public opinion of the world without surrender' of sovereignty, without impaired nationality or affronted national pride. A solution has been found in amity. If the world has hungered' for a new assurance, it may feast at the banquet yrhich the Conference has spread. The people of the United States are supremely gratified ; yet they- cannot appreciate how marvellously you have wrought. “When the days w r ere dragging and agreements were delayed, few stopped to realise that here was a conference where only unanimous agreement could be made the rule. There were no victors to command, no vanquished to yield. You have agreed, in spite of all ■ difficulties. No new standards of national honour have been sought, but indictments of national dishonour have been drawn. It little matters what we appraise as the outstanding achievement. Any one alone would have justified the . Conference. The whole achievement? has so cleared the atmosphere that it will seem like breathing the refreshing air of a new morn of f> remise. ; You have halted folly and ifted burdens.

“Once I believed in and advocated armed preparedness, but I have come to believe that there is a better preparedness in a public ipind and a world opinion made ready to grant justice. It may he that the naval holiday will expire with the treaties; hut I do not believe it. Since the Conference has point the way to peace, a like conference in the future may illumine human activity. To Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal I can! wish no more than the same* feeling which we have experienced, of an'honourable contribution to happy human advancement, and a new sense of security in the righteous pursuits of peace.” At the conclusion of the address, the President’s pastor offered player, and the Conference was adjourned sine die.

BRITAIN’S SUCCESS * BITTER COMMENT IN FRENCH / PAPER. LONDON, February 6. French chargin at the British success in Washington is strikingly reflected iri the editorial article in the “Figaro,” which bitterly declares that the Conference is a victory for Britain, who, unable to maintain the struggle with the United States, has, nevertheless, obtained the right to maintain the world's most powerful fleet. Britain has sacrificed only what she had already lost, and has given up only what could not get, and, at the same time, has given 'the impression of goodwill and abnegation. The 1 ‘Figaro’ ’ pays a tribute to Mr Balfour, who, it says, made the fullest use of what the American call “idealism.” Not once did he openly contest the American thesis. Mr Balfour laid his cards on the table, and disdained petty trickery. Finally he emerged the victor in the perilous Britain ha’s strengthened' her precious friendship with the United' States, and at the same time has consolidated her interests . throughout the world.