LEAGUE AND PEACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17609, 27 October 1931, Page 5

LEAGUE AND PEACE

LORD CECIL OUTSPOKEN DEFENCE OP BRITISH POLICY GENEVA, Sept, 11. Viscount Cecil delivered a very outspoken speech at the League Assembly to-day. ■ it was followed‘With deep attention and frequent applause, and when iio returned to his seat many delegates came to him to shake his hand and present their personal congratulations and appreciation. Asking the Assembly what steps could be taken to improve international relations, lie said:—

“There are present at this Assembly the representatives of two great, highly respected nations, each in their way leaders of the thought of civilisation. If there could bo a real rapprochement between France and Germany, not only in word, but in action, that would remove, I believe, 75 per cent, of the political unrest of tile world. I have seen it said in the papers and elsewhere that my country is opposed to a rapprochement; that for purely selfish reasons wo are anxious to see thoso two countries in hostility, because it gives us a greater position in the councils of Europe. “A SCANDALOUS LIBEL” “That is a. gross and scandalous libel on my country. I have never heard Englishmen give vent to any such proposition.' I arn satisfied that, whether it is the present Government or any future Government of England, it will always be anxious to do its utmost to promote good understandings between its two great neighbors, and nothing would give it greater pleasure, or satisfaction than to see a real friendship—l hope there is a real friendship—but a visible friendship between these two countries. (Loud cheers.)

“We endeavored at Locarno to give practical effect to our desire in that direction, and I can only say that, so far as the spirit of Locarno is concerned, it does' in my country still persist, arid we shall always he ready to do anything wo can to promote this splendid spirit.” (Loud cheers.) Referring to next year’s disarmament conference, Lord Cecil said it was a. great step forward that, by tile unanimous consent of the world, that conference wa- : to meet on February 2 next year, and (hat no Government, least of all the British, would tolerate for a moment any proposal for its postponement. . (Cheers.) He earnestly hoped llial some proposal giving body and concrete effect to Signor Grumli’s suggestion t'Or an immediate armaments, holiday would lie laid before the Third Committee of the Assembly (which deals with disarmament). “I - can . promise,” added .Lord (Veil, “that so far as I am concerned I shall give it iiie most anxious and sympathetic consideration, with tho desire, if possible, to sec; how a practical measure of that, kind can be brought into actual existence.” > 1 ■ " AIR, ARMAMENTS Lord Cecil also spoke earnestly oil the subject of air armaments, and alluded to the recent air manoeuvres carried out in various countries “to exercise and perfect an arm which is, perhaps, more essentially than any other arm, an aggressive arm!” He pointed out that the one purpose of military air organisation was the destruction of cities with vast masses of civil population, and against this so far no adequate defence whatever bad been devised. W;is it, lie asked, an encouragement to the public to invest in foreign leans when at the same time the destruction of the material wealth of these countries was being threatened. and when the countries to which the public were implored to lend money were likewise preparing means tor destroying the security on which Hie loans would rest. . ; At, • the afternoon meeting of the Assembly Sir Thomas Wilford, New Zealand delegate and High Commissioner in London, called attention to the‘cost, of the League of Nations, which, he said, fvus increasing arid causing grave concern to most countries., ... .. ..