Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, 21st FEBRUARY, 1935. A PEACE PACT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 February 1935, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, 21st FEBRUARY, 1935. A PEACE PACT.

Never at any time has there been so much talk about peace as there has been since the war. Is that a good sign? Far from it. "When physicians are so anxious, the patient cannot be healthy. In addition to talk, there has been much signing of pacts, yet those who signed them have continued to arm themselves —a process that would obviously not have been necessary if promises to refrain from warfare had been mutually trusted. No one who remembers these things can be in much danger of hailing with excessive optimism even the most hopeful plans for exchanging new pledges. Every such scheme has proved itself by degrees, no matter how warmly accepted it may be at the outset. The London conversations between Britain and France have resulted in the publication of proposals which must unfailingly commend themselves to men of good will, and of which the first

reception has been almost surprisingly favourable.' The London “Times” regards the negotiations as having been “brought to a successful conclusion,” though the Diplomatic Correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” emphasises the fact that this is no case of a fait accompli, but “a proposal submitted to Germany for consideration.” From this last circurn-

stance the “Temps” draws the deduction that other nations will not suspect France and Britain of seeking - to impose something upon them. The two, Powers have laid their cards openly on the table. If any refusal has been made by Germany, the effect would have been to suggest very strongly that she had more to gain, in her own opinion, from concealment than from candour. The pact seeks to do awaj r with concealment altogether. It offers to rescind those provisions of the Treaty of Versailles which limit the armed forces of Germany, and to establish new agreements upon the right to arm. This may be thought nothing more than making a virtue of necessity, in view of the lengths to which unavowed German rearmament is known to have proceeded. But its . main importance appears to lie in the fact that here is a vital amendment to the Versailles Treaty, an amendment which naturally disposes the world to foresee the possibility of others yet to come.