THE BASIS OF PEACE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 3

THE BASIS OF PEACE.

Discussing the guarantees for the future peace of the world, Mr. Asquith recently wrote in the London Observer as follows; —“The first tiding needed is. without doubt, not a re-establishment or the balance of power, but a removal of one of the chief of the chronic causes of unsettleraent by the emancipation and regrouping of subject peoples in accordance with their aspirations and interests. This would go a long way to heal the fostering sores which Europe has inherited from dynastic ambitions, from diplomatic chicane, from military rapacity. But it is clear that if the peace which has become the first interest of a bleeding and devastated world is to be something more than a breathing space or a passing interlude, wo cannot bo content with a mere repainting of the map. We must aim at setting up a world-wide pence partnership, of which all the civilised communities will be members on a level footing, with equal rights and reciprocal duties. These charges, which involve the ‘definite repudiation of militarism as tho governing factor in the relation of States,’ will not be brought about by a stroke of the pen or by an avalanche of rhetoric. They must aim from the beginning at something more than the negative functions of policing the world and preventing breaches of the peace: at nothing less than a ‘partnership of the nations in the joint pursuit of a freer and fuller life for the countless millions who, ny their own efforts and their sacrifices, generation after generation, maintain' the progress and enrich ihe inheritance of humanity !’ ”