SECURITY PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 9

SECURITY PROBLEM

REPORT OF GENEVA COMMITTEE GOVERNMENTS’ STATEMENTS EXAMINED REGIONAL PACTS ADVOCATED The committee at Geneva which has been examining the statements of Governments respecting security has issued a long report on the question. It suggests that regional Pacts should be encouraged. By Telegraph—PßEss Association. Copyright. (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) Genera, February 11. A voluminous report has been issued by the committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Benes, which is sitting at Prague, and received and examined statements from the Governments respecting security, including the British memorandum which clearly influenced the committee. The report states that eighty-five treaties of conciliation and arbitration are in existence at present, binding thirty eight States. The committee suggests that regional Pacts should be encouraged, on the lines of the Rhineland Pact, and flexible model Pacts should be prepared. These should include clauses having reference to the exclusion of war; secondly, the organisation of pacific procedure for the settlement of disputes; Thirdlv, a system of mutual assistance, linked up with the functions of the League Council. The report only constitutes a basis for discussion at the forthcoming Security Commission.

UNITED STATES TO OFFER TREATY TO GERMANY (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, February’ 11. An arbitration treaty, similar to that recently signed hv France and the United States, will be offered Germany soon after the Senate acts upon the French Pact. There is at present no arbitration treaty between the United States and Germany, because those countries did not sign such an agreement when Mr. Elihu Root negotiated a score of arbitration Pacts in 1908 and 1909. SOVIET TO SEND OBSERVER TO GENEVA (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) Geneva, February 11. The Soviet has announced that it is sending an observer to the League Committee on Security and Arbitration on February 20.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” “GERMANY IN CHAINS” GROENER ON TREATY OF VERSAILLES NEED OF AN ARMY (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, February 11. A picture of Germany in chains was painted by Herr Greener, the new Defence Minister, addressing the Budb get Committee of the Reichstag, He declared: “Enchained by the Versailles " Treaty in a manner nearly unbearable for a sovereign people, we cannot make war on a great scale without an army. We can only protect our frontiers and secure our own neutrality in times of conflict. In order to fulfil this task, our little army must, have the greatest energy in manoeuvring capacity. How the art of war is to develop we do not know, but we certainly cannot keep pace with other nations.” He concluded bv stressing that the army must keep clear of the '“political mud line.’ PAN-AMERICAN UNION NOT ANOTHER LEAGUE (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) Havana, February 10. The Pan-American Conference defeated a resolution, by 12 votes against 6, which would have given the PanAmerican Union political pow’er ana made it practically an American League of Nations.