SECURITY PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18406, 12 June 1925, Page 9

SECURITY PACT.

DOMINIONS KEPT FULLY INFORMED.

NO AGREEMENT TO SUBMIT.

(BI CABLE—rHESS ASSOCIATION— COPYBIGHT.) (AUSTSALIAH and k.z. cable association.)

LONDON, June 10.

In regard to Dominion criticism of the proposed Security Pact, it is stated that the Dominions are being kept fully informed of the progress of the negotiations. Undoubtedly their approval and support will bo sought before an agreement is reached, but at present there is no agreement which, can bo submitted to, them. AM that has been done so far has been to indicate the responsibility which Great Britain is prepared to undertaks.

It would bo possible, although such a course is not regarded as probable, for Great Britain to sign tho agreement without the adhesion of the Dominions, thus binding Great Britain, only.

British diplomatic circles emphasise that the proposed Pact guarantees Germany against aggression equally with France.

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN SECRETARY. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received June 11th, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. In the House of Commons Mr Baldwin emphasised that no Security Pact had yet been signed nor would be concluded until the House had been enabled fully to discuss the position, which was that the Anglo-French Go l vernments, after considering the German proposals, wore completely agreed on certain hasio principles for a Pact between the Allies interested in the Rhineland and Germany on a footing of equality. It was expected that Bel.gium and Italy would adhere to the Pact. Mr Baldwin confirmed the statement that the contemplated settlement was strictly bilateral and added that it waa proposed to obtain the French sanction to communicate the text to Parliament immediately the reply had been sent to Berlin. ' (eeuteb's tblkobahs.) GENEVA, June 10. In regard to the French semi-official statement on the Anglo-French Agree? ment, Mr Austen Chamberlain (British Foreign Secretary) suggests that comment on the supposed contents of the Note to Germany be reserved pending publication. He emphasises that m tho exchange of views with the French Government the British Government followed the course indicated in the Declaration of tfce British representative to the League Council and in his own statement in the House of Commons on March 24th. . [ln the statement referred to Mr Chamberlain said any arrangement into which Britain might enter should be purely defensive in character, framed in the Bpirit of the Covenant, and worked in close harmony with the League. It was essential to such an agreement that Germany should enter the League,-taking her place in the Council on a footing of equality.J

PACT OR EMPIRE.

NEWSPAPER'S VIEW.

(AUSTBAUAH AOT) N.Z. CASUS ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, Juno 10.

The "Daily Express," commenting on Mr Mackenzie King's statement in the Canadian House of Commons, that Canada would not be a party to a Franco-British pact, says: "What Canada says to-day the other Dominions will say to-morrow. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are as solidly opposed to participation as is Canada. Public opinion in the Dominions is so strong that no Government would cotisbnt to give a written undertaking to intervene ift Europe in'tho event of something happening in* the future, the nature of which nori© forgees. If it gave such pledge it would fallTherefore the British Government mti3t choose between a pact with France and the solidarity of the Empire. If Mr Chamberlain signs it will bind Britaiu, not the Empire. "Actually, there is not any immediate crisis. • If Britain is unwise enough to plunge into these new commitments the Dominions will simply look on in silence, and will reserve complete freedom of action, but the Empire will bare developed a quality menacing its essential unity, as, the Mother Country will be. pledged to go one way and the Dominions will have reserved the Jiberty to go another. ''>■_. "Mr Amery roust be aware of the serious difficulties confronting Downing street with Australia and Canada in maintaining a united Imperial front in regard to foreign' affaire, both at Geneva and Washington. The question of submitting migration to Australia to the League of Nations is a small isstie, compared with those raised by the pact. "The Ministerial intentiohs ar© well meaning-, but they are looking in the wrong direction, gazing over-much tffi Europe and too little at tho Empire. The pact would be fatal because it would put the lives of our sons in pawn and shatter the solidiarity of the Empire." ■

of what the British Government was doing, and that an agreement should have been sought with foreign Governments before it had been definitely ascertained, how far the Dominions Governments were prepared to go.

"Finally the question is and that forcibly: In the event of international trouble or danger, would Britain give priority over her fighting resources to her European partners or to the Dominions?

IN EVENT OF DISPUTE. LEAGUE MAY DETERMINE AGGRESSOR. (AUSTRALIAN _ AKD N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, June 10. Diplomatic circles understand that it has not been decided whether the League of Nations will be the determining authority to say whether France or Germany is the innocent "party in the event of the pact coming into operation. The present idea is that tho party which crosses the frontier first would ba deemed the offending party.

The choicer of entering the pact or rejecting it will not be forced upon Germany by Britain. Germany will act according to her own sentiments. The next step will be the French Note proposing a security pact. Meanwhile, Italy and Belgium are. being asked to join.

How the Dominions view the pact is still doubtful and, probably, considerable negotiations will be necessary to bring all the Dominions into line, as they have been against such a pledge since the war.

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