THE KELLOGG PACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 7

THE KELLOGG PACT

PRESERVING PEACE NEW OBLIGATIONS [ British Official Wireless. 1 RUGBY, Dec. Sir Austen Chamberlain and the American Ambassador, Mr Alanson Houghton, were the principal guests at the Pilgrims’ Dinner, held last night to celebrate the signing ot the multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. Mr Houghton read a telegram from thp U.S. Secretary of State (Mr F. B. Kelrogg) in which he said: “The treaty expresses the sentiments of all the peoples of the world, and 60 nationsffiavc cither stated that the treaty is being adhered to or h«.vc expressed their intention to adhere 10 it. Thus it becomes the declaration and tjc hopes and aspirations of mankind.” In his speech, Mr Houghton said that he could not discuss the treaty as directly a. s he would like, because it was about to be laid for consideration before the Senate. All, however, were agree*! that peaceful settlement of problems arising between the nations was wholly desirable, and the fact that the Canadian people and those of the United States had been able to Jive side by side in mutual safety and contentment, divided by wn unguarded frontier, could not be without significance to the rest of the world. These two people had shown that they were safer and happier without naval and military forces for their protection. Sir Austen Chamberlain, referring to the fact that the multilateral treaty was about to be considered by the United States’ Senate, said that in thesn circumstances .111 he could say was that if it were approved by the authorities jf the United States, no Government would more readily and more eagerly give its ratification to tho instrument which proceeded from American initiative than the Government which En had the honour to represent. Discussing the Pact, he said: “What is it that 60 nations have, done for the first time in tbeir history? They have .renounced war as an instrument of policy. 1 say for myself, and for the Government which I represent, that from the moment we received the proposal of the United States Government we recognised it as important, and our earnest effort was to help it to its conclusion. Now we have signed it we recognise to the full its implications in the conduct of our own foreign policy and the obligations which it imposes on us to seek a settlement of all international differences by peaceful means “The Paet, however, imposes not confined to Governments. 1 desire on this occasion to say tha* it places a new obligation on the publicists of our different countries to work for peace, to interpret one nation to another, and to be slow to excite suspicion or entertain suspicion. Their part in making the Kellogg Pact an instrument is just as important, and just as responsible, and just as honourable, as that of the men who are charged with the conduct of public affairs.”