PROPOSED PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18418, 26 June 1925, Page 9

PROPOSED PACT.

DEBATE IN COMMONS. MUTUAL NATURE STRESSED. FOREIGN SECRETARY'S SPEECH !>T CAFI.F.— I'L'ESS ASSOCIATION—COrYT.UMIT.) (A-JSTRAUAN and n.z. cable association.) (Received June 25th, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2!. In the House of Commons, in opening the debate on tho Foreign Offico Estimates, Mr Chamberlain emphasised that the policy outlined in the "White Paper respecting the proposed Security Pact was the policy of tho united Cabinet. The Government desired the policy which they pursued in matters of such consequence to Britain, tho Empire, and tho world, to be the policy of all parties and of the whole nation. They wero endeavouring to conduct their foreign policy in the spirit of MiBaldwin's declaration, that the Government's ono object would bo stability and continuity. All parties had only one object, namely, to secure peace and to mako war impossible, or at least as remote a danger as possible. No unilateral Fact of the Allies against Germany could now bo contemplated by tho British Government.

PACT OF EQUALS.

REFERENCE TO DOMINIONS

(AUSTRALIAN AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received June 2oth, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, June 25.

The political writers agree that Mr Chamberlain's statement was too general to he really informative, and contained nothing new to students of the White Paper.

Speakers following him raised vanous questions based on hypothetical cireumstanc.es. To most of these Mr Chamberlain, winding up the debate, replied. His winding-up speech, nevertheless, was no more enlightening than his opening obc. It occupied 40 minutes, though, owing to the lateness of the hour, it was only briefly reported. One new fact emerged, namely, Mr Chamberlain's belief that Cologne will be evacuated within two months. It is interesting to note in this connexion that the Paris correspondent of the"Morning Post" understands that the last French soldier will have probably left the Euhi by August 15th. Mr Chamberlain stressed the fact that tho Powers entered tho Pact as equals. There was no member signing an agreement who undertook obligations on one side which in altered circumstances did not apply equally to the other side. .It was in essenco not an alliauco of one set of nations against another set, but a mutual guarantee of pacific intentions. Tho Pact gave no right to any Power to go through tho territory of any other to the assistance of a third. The right to march across a neighbour's territory to tho assistance of a wronged nation was embodied in tho Covenant, but it was only when tho League had exhausted methods of conciliation that the question of this right arose. Among the reference's during the debate to the Dominions, Mr Robert Hudeon, (Conservative) said Britain must see that her foreign policy was such that if ever sho had to fight again for a good caiisc the Dominions of their own frco will would support her as they did in 1914. Mr Percy Hurd (Conservative) said the Empire's policy-must be fashioned ill sympathy with the Dominions' feelings.

Commander Bellairs (Conservative) said it was essential that the Dominions should be with Britain. The alliance of the British Commonwealth was infinitely more important than any Pact. In reply to Mr T. Shaw (Labour), Mr Chamberlain said they had no communication from Australia or Canada expressing a definite opinion against <he fact.

ISOLATION IMPOSSIBLE. NO UNIVERSAL EXTENSION OF OBLIGATIONS. (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION - .) (Received Juno 25th, 5.40 p.m.) LONTJON, Juno 23.

Mr Chamberlain said tho abstention of tho British and of Britain particularly, from European affairs never served, and never would serve, tho interests of peace. No nation could isolate itself to-day. Anything seriously affecting tho peace of Europe must affect every nation, belligerent or not. Our signature to tho Covenant of the League was incompatible with isolation. Our safety lay, not in seeking impossible isolation, but in the prudent use of our influence and power to obtain peace and prevent war. The Government was of opinion that it was impossible for the British Empire or Britain to undertake any universal extension of the obligations we had already incurred as members of the League and signatories to tho Covenant, and therefore held that the special needs of the moment must bo met by *pocial 'iirrangenjents of a. purely defensive character, framed in the spirit of tho Covenant and working in close harmony with the League and under its guidance. (Continued at foot of nest column.)

HOPE OF PEACE.

APPEAL FOR ADOPTION. OPERATION OF GUARANTEE EXPLAINED. IRECTEIt's TELtGKAMS.) (Received June 2-jth, 10.0 p.m.) LONDON, June. 2G. Mr Chaniberlaiu emphasised that no treaty or draft treaty existed. It was merely a preliminary statement of what different countries felt, what it would bo possiblo for them to undertake, and in what direction thev thought that they could make an advance. Our new- obligations would bo definitely limited to tho frontier between Germany on tho ono side and Fran-co and Belgium on the other, and out guaranteo rjf the frontier could not lw invoked by a wrongdoer to shield him. Our guarantee became effective only if, in defiance of treaties and the obligations of tho Covenant, a. wrongdoer resorted to force. The guarantee then would bocomo immediately effective. If one. of tho parties refused to arbitrate or to carry out an arbitration award our guarantee could not bo invoked to protect him, though if lie did that and no more we retained our liberty, subject to our obligations under thi> Covenant, to decide what action we would take.

Dealing with the question of Uvj eastern frontiers of Germany, Mr Chamberlain said that if, for example, Germany, in violation of arbitration, attacked Poland, article 10 of tho Covenant eamo into play immediately and France would bo entitled to treat this as an act of war against her, but Britain in such a case would have no obligations other than thoso already incumbent on her in virtue of her signature to the Covenant. If, on the othe hand, Poland similarly attacked Germany, neither France i:>or Britain had any obligations whatever, except those contained in article 16 and other art hies of tho treaty. The whole plan was a very large step towards disarmament by removing the fear of war. Europe was still ranged into two hostile camps, and the danger of a new stnigglo was increasing. Now perhaps the last opportunity was open. The situation had been sensibly altered by an exchange of views in -a conciliatory spirit, in which occurred the example of Frame's spontaneous decision to evacuate- the Ruhr before the fixed date. The proposal offered a great and happy prospect of a better and moro peaceful world, but it would come to nothing unless Britain co-operated. Ho earnestly pleaded with his countrymen to co-operate in carrying out as a national policy proposals on which he believed tho peace of tho world depended, and for tho sake of future generations to show themselves worthy of their great traditions.

DEBATE ADJOURNED. STATEMENT REGARDING DOMINIONS. (EECTErt's TELEGIU.MS.) (Received June 2oth, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON. June 20. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald suggested that Mr Chamberlain ought to make a disarmament agreement an essential part of the scheme, jrst as Germany's entry into the League was essential. He expressed the opinion that tho method of alliances was futile. Mr Lloyd Geurgo Kaid all wereagreed about the aims, but differed concerning methods. If we could, get a Pact, not merely including a. declaration from Germany respecting the inviolability of the west frontier, but also ono between France, Germany, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia, that all questions likely ti» arise between these nations should be referred to arbitration, it would be a great advance towards peace. If France and Germany declined to sign they did not mean peace, and in such a case, Britain oiight not to be in it.

Mr Chamberlain, when replying to the debate, mentioned that the association of Italy with the Western Pact guarantee would be welcomed. Britain was prepared to join the oilier great Powers in any conference for the further limitation of armaments. The initiative in regard to naval matters might better fume from the United State:-, tt, which wo oued first, decisive international act of disarmament which the world had se:n. The Powers with the larger" armies, if assured of security, would probably taKo the initiative by making spontaneous proposals for a reduction in the land armaments, which they had hitherto considered necessary for their safety. The Dominions were kept fully informed of ail the proceedings by the British Government. a:iu except Sew Zealand, which had expressed its complete confidence in the British Government, with which it was 1 content to \c;wo the decision, they had not yco declared themselves. But nn Dominion could be committed except by its own Government, acting with the support of its own Parliament. The debate was adjourned.