LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 24

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

DISARMAMENT DEBATE. ■ I EN EVA, October 2. M. Noblemaire (France), continuing the disarmament debate, said that France would give the fullest support to a practical realisation of disarmament, but sine demanded that there should be power to make investigations in all countries. Whv should not a free and peaceful France live alongside a free and peaceful Germany? France did not want more wars, but she Lad no room for extreme pacifists, who vvero deaf and blind to harsh realities. France was anxiously watching the tragedy which was being enacted in Germany between the spirit of work and peace of the Democracy and the spirit of war oi the Junkers. France was bound to keep an army in readiness. It was not her fault that circumstances compelled her to he ready to act as the world’s police. Mr II A. L. Fisher (Great Britain) said that he was glad to learn that pacific sentinu nts prevailed mi both sides of the frontier. F.urop°an peace was possible on the day that France and Germany forgot a little of their antagonism. If Great Britain and Fiance were not always in agreement diplomatically, thev were ever willing to lay the first stone of universal peace. Lord Robeit Cecil’s report was adopted. Mr Bruce (Australia) stater! that the waste of a year in regard to the disannaaneut question was very serious. lip had

great hopes from the Washington Conference ; but it would be necessary to do a great deal of preparatory work in collecting information, without which a reduction was hopeless. If armaments were not reduced civilisation would become chaotic in a few years owing to the collapse of the world’s finances. BE I TAIN’S REPRESENTATION. LONDON, October 6. Considerable pressure is being used to induce Mr Lloyd George to reconsider his decision not to go to Washington. It is pointed out that it would be possible for him to preside at the opening sessions of the Irish Conference and afterwards to proceed to America.