PROPOSED PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18414, 22 June 1925, Page 9

PROPOSED PACT.

LONDON CRITICISM. SPECIAL CABLES FROM DOMINIONS. (BT CABLE—PE ESS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIOBT.) UCSTP.ALIAN AND N. 3. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received June 21st, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. Tho proposed Security Tact continues to evoke the strongest crit-icrsm. The "Daily Express" prints special cables f:V3m Mclbourn, Cliristchurch, Ottawa and Capo Town, generally opposing any commitment. The paper editorially argues that the Pact is really unilateral, because it compels Britain to light- on tho side of Franco whatever the justice or tho occasion of the conflict. If Germany invades the demilitarised zone, Britain ipso facto is at war with her, but it doos not follow that Britain would be at war with France if she crosses the zone in an assault on Germany. The diplomatic correspondent of tho "Daily Telegraph" says there is talk of appointing a committee of jurists foe tho purpose of defining what constitutes an aggressor and aggression. The "Daily Chronicle,*" discussing tho proposed arbitration treaties between Germany and Franco and Belgium, quotes the section of tho French Note dealing with them. Both treaties are to apply to all disputes and if one of the parties, refusing to submit a dispute to arbitration or to carry out an arbitral award, resorted to hostile measures, iho' guarantee under which Britain is bound to act would come into immediate operation. Tho paper comments: It appears from Mr Chamberlan's dispatch on May 28th that the British Government does not conceive the guarantee as obliging Britain to resort to force anywhere except in the guarantoed Rhineland area, but in practice, if we had to tako action, it would be almost impossible to thus limit the sphere. The paper concludes by viewing thei scheme as a whole with profound scepticism.

FRANCE AND POLAND. MR J. L. GARVIN'S CRITICISM. (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received Juno 21st, 11.5 £.in.) LOffD'ON, June 21. Mr J. L. Garvin, commenting in th 6 "'Observer" on the proposed Pact, Says: Germany apparently recognises the permanent cessation of Alsace-Lor-raine to France. This ought to mean, the end of a. lOflO-y ears' feud. So far nothing could b«' more satisfactory, but in some uncertain words Franco seems to reserve the right toattack Germany in Poland's interest) without consulting Britain or the League. Upon this point searching criticism will fasten. TJie possibilities of an arbitrary attack will have to be eliminated boforo any final Pact can be signed. Neither by Pact nor Protocol will Britain run any risk of being involved in war against heir own will and judgment.

SOUTH AFRICA'S VIEW.

SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENT.

(mjstbalian and k.z. cable association.)

(Eeceived June 21st, 5.5 p.m.) CAFE TOWN, June 20.

A Parliamentary paper containing the communications between the Prime Minister and th© GSvernor-Gcneral on the Geneva Protocol has, been issued. The Ministers regret that they are unable to recommend the acceptance of the Protocol to Parliament. The Protocol would only make it more difficult for nations outside the League to join. It Would be impossible to calculate tTio obligations accruing under the Pact; further, the interests of South Africa demand that no international obligations should be entered into entailing participation or interfernecc by the Union in matters not, or only remotely, concerning her by which her real aild proper interests might eventually be jeopardised. The publication of the document now is regarded as significant in view bf the discussions on the new Security Pact, and as an indication of the Government's attitude towards it.

GERMAN OPINIONS. NATIONALIST OPPOSITION. CBECTZa'S TULEOBAJfS.) BERLIN, June 19. The Nationalist newspapers" advocate the rejection of the French Note on the Security Pact, and especially criticise France's claim to aiSTorate in tho event of a German-Polish conflict. The unconditional entry of Germany into the League of Nations is strongly objected to, as it stated that it is impossible for Germany to give' the League the right to send troops across Germanv against another nation. Tho Catholic organ, "Germania," expresses the- opinioh that Germany and France will agree to the Note in principle. "Vorwaerts"' considers that the French reply has advanced the discussion. , Dr. Stresemann's organ, "Diezet," sees in the reply the possibility of negotiations with France.