FOREIGN RELATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16542, 9 January 1928, Page 8

FOREIGN RELATIONS

THREE YEARS’ PROGRESS REVIEW BY MR. BALDWIN PACIFICATION OF EUROPE. (British Official Wireless.) Bee. noon. LONDON, Jan. 9. Speaking at Worcester yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed the view that more progress had been made throughout Europe m the last three years than m any equal period since the war. It was in October, 1925, that the greatest, step was taken in the Conference at Locarno, which brought together France Belgium, Germany, Italy and Great Britain, as general guarantors of the existing western frontier between Belgium and France. For the first lime since the war there is a feeling of security, without wiiich it was naturally impossible for us to co-operate as we should all desire in the necessary work of reconstituting and pacifying Europe. Then, on the other hand, it brought Germany into the League of Nations, and marked a definite end of the postwar period, it, enabled the inter-Allied Military Commission in Germany to he withdrawn twelve months ago. Germany, on her part, had shown good faith in carrying out the terms of the. Versailles Treaty, and we, now had the great co-operation of Germany, and while our relations essential to progress in Europe had so greatly improved with Germany it has been possible also to increase co-operation with Franco and Italy. Now. the great progressive nations of the west were united in their endeavour tp create a peaceful and prosperous Europe. CHINESE SITUATION. Referring to China, Mr Baldwin said the British Government, was still prepared to revise its treaty with China, providing. China was in a position fo make a bargain. As. to the Shanghai defence lorre, it was admitted by the whole world that it hqd probably saved the lives of thousands of white people. He Imped in time that it might be possible to withdraw this force, and that they might see a united government in China, but that, force would not lie withdrawn so long as its withdrawal might imperil the lives of I,ho British people. The 'Prime Minister said he did not think there was any country which had shown more practically how deeply and earnestly it felt m tho matter of disarmament than had Britain. Tie declared that, the British proposals at the Geneva Naval Conference would have precluded armaments competition. He did not know what would he the next practical attempt to he made, but there was nothing in the course pursued by the British Government since the war which could lead people to think that when there was anything practical to be done, Great Britain would not he in the van of progress.