FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16801, 14 November 1928, Page 8

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

DIVERGENT VIEWPOINTS BRITAIN AND AMERICA STATEMENT BY MR. BALDWIN. (British Official Wireless.) Ree. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 13. The Prime Minister. Mr. Baldwin, made a statement in the House of Commons to-day on the Anglo-French compromise. It was in reply to Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal Leader, who had moved as an amendment to the Addressin Reply to the King's Speech that the House 'considered that the compromise endangered the prospects of peace in Europe and the good relations with the United Mates; regretted the abandonment of the principle of the limitation of small .submarines and cruisers; and considered that the basis of naval discussions should be the extension of the Washington Treaty to all classes of combatant ships; 'and that the exclusion of reservists from the computation of the French, military .strength was contrary to the spirit both of the Treaty of Versailles and of the Locarno Treaty.

.Air. .Baldwin said the compromise was no more than a perfectly honest and straight-forward attempt to get out of the 'deadlock which had occurred at Geneva. The Government had been strongly criticised on the ground that it- "had made concessions to France and conferred some immunities upon her. lie pointed out that France remained a, conscript, country, as she always had been. France regarded conscription as an essential part of the doctrine of democracy. Conscription in France dated from the revolution. It was not only on the grounds of national security against their external, enemies that tbo French bad had conscription, and thei existence of a conscript army did not necessarily make a country militant, in France they held the view (hat if every man had to go and light when war began the masses of the people would be less inclined to think about war. and statesmen would think twice before they ordered them to go and fight. A\'C LO FRENCH COMPROMBE,

Regarding criticism that the compromise was directed against other countries, especially the L'nited Stales, Mr. Baldwin pointed out that a telegram despatched to the United States Secretary of State at the beginning of August emphasised that the agreement was not a treaty, and that it was being submitted to the United States in order that it should' consider its terms and give its considered observations and any suggestions. A similar message was sent to Italy, and later to Germany. (Cut inning, Mr. Baldwin referred to the question of the Rhineland. lie said the Government's altitude had always been the same. it wanted to see tho evacuation of the Rhineland, but it could not compel evacuation, and if we walked oi ' the Rhineland how would it advance that object by one step? It might cause greater dilliciijtics. Ho thought there, was a real hope that before haig this matter might be settled bv the committees thai were now being set up. The first early stages of the negotiations and the discussions between (he Powers on this subject had been opened in a good spirit and with a desire to settle the mailer, which, lie hoped and .believed, would lead to the liquidation of the last troublesome remnant of war-time in the Rhinelajid.

Dialing with our relations with France, the Prime Minister spoke of Mr. iMacDonabl's policy in 1924 regarding disarmament, when be wrote thai it was a policy which could only be initialed if fiance and Ivnglaml were agreed. When Mr. MacDonald was in uHice he never wavered ill the application of that method i.f dealing with the European situation', and his efforts were successful. The present Government did not mean to deviate from the policy which if had tried to pursue over since it had been in office, which, so far as a cordial understanding of the French was concerned, was the same, as had been pursued by Mr. MacDonald. If was not an exclusive policy, and was not directed against anyone. It was a policy of working in close co-operation, not only with France, but also in cooperation with all other countries. It had been felt in the remotest corners of Europe, and had contributed to a settlement of disputes which might in times past have led to very serious troubles. HEALING WAR WOUNDS.

''Our one desire in our foreign policy is the. desire to heal the wounds caused by the war, and see the peace of Europe consolidated for the benefit of our friends and enemies alike," Mr. Baldwin added. He concluded with reference to the statement made by President Coolid'ge that it was always plain that Europe and the United States lacked mutual understanding. He thought that President Coolidge was right. He, regretted it profoundly. It was very difficult to find anywhere, why it was so, but he had noticed one thing during his term of office which was worth considering: European statesmen had got into a. habit of meeting af Geneva, and there' they learned not only each, other's point of view, but, what was very important, each other's idiosyncrasies as individuals, and he thought there was among European statesmen' a desire in negotiations to seo the other viewpoint, and to compromise if something could be effected by that compromise. This state of affairs existed far more than before the war, American, statesmen, however, did not know European statesmen, nor did European statesmen know American, statesmen, and there was no personal intercourse, the only intercourse being written despatches sent across 3000 miles of water. In those circumstances it was far more difficult to get a mutual understanding to the demands of the House of Commons.

He pointed! out that it was important to all who spoke on America, or oil our relations with America-, to study and understand the. political system of the United Slates. It so different from any of the luircpean systems, and on these differences relations had heen wrecked more than onec. ll was must important for the avoidance of future shipwrecks that we should ho familiar on lids side with the difference in I lie systems <>f (he two emailries, Some uf the liesl work done internationally since. the war had heen the work of financial reconstruction, and in I Ins America had heen engaged with us and oilier countries. Sixty-live years ago, when America was not tin- great Power she is today, when Ihe Union was split, apparently beyond hope of redemption, and when lhe workmen of Lancashire) were starving, Lancashire men, to their credit, wrote to Abraham Lincoln and said. "Carry on." Lincoln,' in reply. finished his teller with these words ; "I regard this interchange of sentiment us an augury Iha I whatever else may hap pen. whatever misfortune may hefall your country, or mv iwn, the pc>:tee mml friendship which now oxisl !>!■<i> •> ■

(he two nations will he. as il should h( mv desire to make them, perpetual."

The Prime Minister cone-hided amid I lie cheers of the House

Recently the Wellington Chamber of Commerce took up with the Council of Fire Underwriters' Associations the question of reduction in rates for earthquake risk insurance, and a reply has been received stating that revision of the rates has been considered, and substantial concessions will operate in future,