WORKING TOWARDS PEACE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1927, Page 9

WORKING TOWARDS PEACE

GREAT BRITAIN'S VIEWS POWER OF LEAGUE GROWS BOBER OPTIMISM FELT (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, Sept. 13. Sir Aiwten Chamberlain received about 250 journalists from all parts of the world at his hotel in Geneva last evening and discussed some of the questions that had arisen during the present assembly. He realised that the entire Assembly could not be expected to adopt the view expressed by him in his speech on Saturday, but impressed that from an Englishman's standpoint it was a reasonable attitude, for the British Empire was unwilling to make engagements she might be unable to fulfill.

It was unlikely that the members of the League would be in agreement for a long time on the question of the protocol, and he did not see any advantage in proceeding with the discussion which, to his mind, would not bring about any further success or practical results. That was not because the Englishman looked only on the practical side of things, nor was it because the Englishman questioned the ideals of the League. “We have based all our foreign policy and our foreign relations on the League,” said -Sir Austen. “All our foreign relations are inspired by the ideals of the League and we are always willing to help as much as we possibly can the policy of general appeasement and of peace between neighbours,” Britain had no compromise to make in the matter of her policy, which was that of attaining the gradual establishment of friendly relations between the nations. Anywhere Britain had been able to better the world she had done so. Everywhere her influence had been placed at the service of the League of Nations.

Every year after every League meeting war became more difficult to launch and more difficult to justify. We had not yet reached the point where war was impossible, but • nation which would make war without the consent of the League would start on a dangerous path which would cost it very dearly.

“If we look back ten years we can see the progress that has been made, and on account of that progress it is difficult to understand the uneasiness that marked the beginning of the Assembly, but which was dissipated as the debates proceeded. At Locarno, before the day of treaty signature, I said to the British journalists that I was soberly optimistic. To-day I am soberly optimistic and have confidence in the League’s future. Let us base that confidence on facts. My. country will do all it can.” MR. MACDONALD AND PROTOCOL. DOMINION INQUIRY URGED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 14, 7.30 pm. London, Sept. 12b Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in a letter to the Daily* Herald, says: “The debates at Geneva cause great concern. I doubt if ever in our time Britain has been put in a more awkward position as a Continental Power. M. Dandurand's speech also shows that Sir Austen Chamberlain’s statement was untrue. The delegates from the Dominions in 1024 unanimously a«tepted the idea of the protocol. We have now to find how far the Dominions can be accommodated to a common Empire policy which can be fitted with the protocol idea. I favour a commission from the League being appointed to consider the draft of the 1924 treaty. “Meantime we should secure a consultation with the Dominions even, If necessary, by a special session of the Imperial Conference, to discuss the oblifations which the protocol imposes on he Empire and consider the optional elauee setting up the Hague Court.”