SECURITY PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18408, 15 June 1925, Page 11

SECURITY PACT.

BRITISH OPINIONS. ATTACK BY SIR lAN HAMILTON. (by cable—press association'— copyright.) (Australia's aVd v.z. cable association.) (Received June 14th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. This week promises to be momentous in European affairs. The Trench reply will be dispatched to Berlin, after which it will be published in all parts of tho world. Thereupon we may expect that a flood of new j comment will bo released, including I German opinion, which has been strangely silent, except for the first outburst based npou an inaccurate forecast. The most reliable information is that the French reply will be suave in tono, and will deal mainly in generalities. The chief point will be acceptance of the German proposition. The next step will be tho German Government's reaffirmation of its desire to negotiate a Pact, which will be followed by a conference to arrange details and draw up terms. It is expect cd that Mr Chamberlain will return from Switzerland, where ho is holidaying, on Wednesday, and that tho Commons will debate the reply on Thursday, or at any rato as soon as possible after the Noto is published. General Sir lau llamilton, speaking at South Norwood, said: We realise the camouflage of words like "Pact," "Protocol," "Defence," and "Security. '' If you boil them down you will find at tho bottom of tho saucepan an obligation to fight, which will bo hung round tho necks of our youngsters. Do not let us fight in another man's quarrel. If wo fight, let it be our own war, agreod to by those about to die. Tho "Sunday Express" says:—Tho astounding f eaturo' about the proposed J?act is that it would pledge our blood and treasure to French policy without a settlement of the' French debt. Mr J. L. Garvin, in a lengthy article in the "Observer" on the proposed Pact, says: Nothing on earth would induce tho British democracy to mobilise unless previous consultation, had been adequate, and the action of Franco understood and approved by the decisive weight of British public opinion. We hope that our friends across the Channel will never forgot this. The Belgian Government has approved of the French reply.