BALANCE OF POWER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 1 March 1918, Page 5

BALANCE OF POWER

HELD BY BRITAIN. Mufetvaiian-N.Z ' d.oi« Association > (Received this morning, 12.35 o'clock) LONDON, Feb. 27. In the House of Commons, the Hon. A. J. Balfour, in replying to criticisms that the Government was not ÜBing diplomacy in the interests of peace, said: "Diplomacy is out of court unless some measure of potential agreement existed making diplomatic conversations fruitful of good results. All indications showed it had not reached that happy stage. There was no clear direction in which the sunlight of peace could make itself felt. The time may come soon, ibut we would be deceiving ourselves if we took a sanguine view in face of Baron von HerEling's speech. There was only one course for Germany to pursue and say 'I have sinned,' and next to say 'I make reparation and restore without conditions what I have taken.' Germany's idea of economic freedom and frontier security always meant commercial trammels on weaker neighbours and the appropriation of territory.*' After dealing with other of Hertling's statements, Mr Balfour declared that England did not want to use the balance of power for self-aggran-disement. She fought only because in so doing Europe would be saved from the domination of an overpowering. aggressive nation. England, in upholding the balance of power, saved Prussia from destruction jand later helped to recover her independence against Napoleon 111. Because of this, German statesmen deride England's efforts for the balance of power. Until German militarism is abolished and an International Court, with executive powers, is established for the protection of the -weak, it is impossible to ignore the principles underlying the balance of power. If Baron von Hertling could induce his to, give up the policy of an ambitious world domination peace might come now and for ever." Referring to Baron von Hertling's statement that Germany's policy in the East was directed to preventing atrocities and devastation and the of humanity, Mr Balfour pointed to the fact that Germany's policy in the West was entirely oceu- j pied in atrocities and devastations. ' "We are ready," said Mr. Balfour, "to stand our trial on humanity side by side of Germany. While Germany was determined to have the rest of the civilised world creeping at her ieet it was difficult to conduct the diplomatic conversations which must be a prelude to a peace for which no one longed for more than ourselves. Conversations began am! ended in discord wore worse than none at all. To begin negotiations without seeing a way to their successful termination was the greatest crime against future peace negotiations, which must be preceded by a closer approximation of ideas. Ho would Tjo injuring the cause of peace if he encouraged hope. These verbal communications were useful until a. general agreement was apparent in the distance, nd the statesmen of all countries could see the way to a settlement. (