THE SECURITY PACT.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1925, Page 2

THE SECURITY PACT.

[Australia A N.Z. Cable Association.] KILL NO H NEWSPAPER COMMENT. PARIS, June 9. The newspapers emphasise the importance of the agreement between AT. Briaml and the Hon Austen Chamberlain. The " Petit Purisien" states the proliosed pact is superior to preceding drafts, inasmuch as it is no longer a question of Britain assisting France and Belgium but the Jinn determination by Britain to defend her own security on the Rhine and the Scheldt. The “Petit Journal’ - foresees a similar l''raneo-rtalian-Austrian pact guaranteeing the frontiers ol these countries. It says Mr Chamberlain and M. Briaml are working to obtain the addition of Italy to the Anglo-French Entente.

The " Echo de Paris’’ and l’ertinax criticises the propo-ed pact and declares that if stub a system is confirmed it will he the end of any independent far-seeing French policy.

FRENCH EXAGGERATION

BR ri'A IN'S KESBO XST BII A IT ES. LONDON, June 9. It is authoritatively announced that the. statements based on inspired information from. French sources, that Britain has entirely reversed hen traditional policy ol isolation and pledged her whole armed forces to war if the Rhine frontier is violated, are exaggeration. The negotiations have only just commenced with the sending of a Note to Germany.

Tile suggested pact defines, but does not increase Britain's responsibilities. It i.s untrue that any violation by Germany of territorial or military clauses of the Treaty ol ) ersailles will be casus belli for Britain, which reserves the right to make her own decision in such an eventuality. The fact thatFrance has the right to cross the demilitarised zone of Hie Rhine without seeking the sanction ol the League of Nations, if Boland and (V.oeho-Slovakia are attacked, has caused the greatest difficulty in the discussions between Britain and France and now that the general terms for discussion with Germany have been announced, French opinion is losing sight of the lnet that, the pact will he a mutual one with Germany.

Tn the event of a Franco-German clash if will lie an obligation on the British Government to assist Germany if France is indeed to he the aggressor. Morover. the British viewpoint is that the stipulations In the Covenant of the League of Nations must take precedence over all else.

EX-LABOUR PREMIER'S OPINION

LONDON June 1(1. Mr MacDonald, interviewed by the “Daily Herald'' .-ays, the whole Labour Party will oppose the agreement as the beginning, Hot of a general understanding to maintain the lea> e. but individual fact.- and alliances. It creates organisation for war am! it is an attempt to supersede the League of Nations as a treaty making medium.

GERMAN FLIGHT. BERLIN. June 0. Thirty-five out of the thirty-eight airmen who participated in the fifth and last circuit of the round Germany flight have so far returned to the Templeliof Aerodrome. The winners of the competition will not he announced for a fortnight. The fastest sliced for the lasi circuit was attained by a Baiimer with a 60horse power engine in -188 minutes. Two babies completed this circuit in 16 hours.

l.oerzer w ill probably he the winner * of the under forty hor-e-power class as ’ he has llown the greatest mileage nlr though he wa- 1111 .i 1 > 1,■ to i-onipleie ih<■ ” last i iii nil through a forced lauding. i •’ BRITAIN THE POLICEMAN, t 1 | Reuter Telegrams.] l l ' ' Ilecei’ed this day at 8 a .in.) LONDON, June 11. Later information concerning the proposed Security Pact show-; the iut’ tent ion to make ii absolutely hi-laler-al and mutual in character. Britain’s contribution to the aegis of the ~ League of Nations being flic guarantee of the existing Rhine frontier against aggression both from Franco and 1 ~ Hermany. ' An essential preliminary to the <>| >- oration of tile pact will lie Hermany’entry inlo the League. BRITAIN’S PLEDGE. LONDON. June 0. The ‘'Times” political correspondent says :—"AYhen the Pact Note, which the French (.'oveninieiit is sending to per!in is published, it will he seen that .Mr Chamberlain has made no concessions to France which are unneeesI sary, because -M. Briand (French For- . eign .Minister) everywhere has mot the British objections half way. What is now wanted is a formal declaration ' that Germany is favourably disposed to the League of Nations. This is the - more necessary, since the French and 1 British Governments are unanimous 1 that Germany’s entrance into the Lea- * giip is an essential condition not only 1 to a Pact, lint to the whole settle- <

in nit of Europe.’’ LONDON PRESS COMMENT. LONDON. June 9. Regarding the Pact (jiics.tinn. tin "Daily Telegraph” emphasises that m draft of the Security Pact exists. IF terms will require the closest consideration by all parties, and at present Britain is engaged in a consultation with the Dominions. The propose. Pact is not presented in its right proportions when it is described as if it were an agremeiit to enter into an Alliance against Hennany. The essence of the proposal i- the mutuality of the guarantee, anil no British Hoverumcnt will he a party to any Pact which does not assume the good iaith oi’ all the signatories. Inti! the terms arc disclosed, it says, it will he Lest te refrain from building any edifice of hopes and assumption-, where the foundation has yet to lie laid. FALSE REPORTS CIRCTLATKD. LONDON. June 9. 1 here is the strongest criticism in

seventl paper.- regarding the statement circulated throughout the world on Monday, purporting to give the terms of the Geneva Agreement. The “ Daily Express.” editorially, says; the meeting ot Chamberlain and Briand should ice the oci-n-inn of a partieularlv flagrant ease of misleading French -emi-otheial propaganda. This announcement as to tire extent of agreement at which their governments have arrived seem- to have been deliberately circulated to put- the newspapers in Pari- and London off tin* scent. No British Hovornment, which projioseil to sign such a unilateral compact as the ]• pencil statement suggests would exist for six months, hut it any case, it is deplorable that a communique of this kind, which misleads the press of two countries regarding the nature of agreement should have been issued at

The “Daily Express” adds:—lt i.s quite clear that Mr Chamberlain had only authority to agree to a bi-lateral Pact, in which France and Germany would have identical interests and responsibilities. The “ Daily Chronicle's” Parliamentary correspondent says:—“The talk about military alliances and about Britain placing her whole navy, army, and air force at France’s disposal, is not justified by anything yet done or contemplated.” The Central News Agency learned last night, front .authoritative circles, that the statements tints far issued regarding the agreement all are exaggerations of the facts. DOMINIONS BEING CONSULTED. LONDON. June 9. It is officially denied in Ixindon that the British Government is yet hound by any definite pledges. Mr Baldwin promises a full statement on .Mr Chamberlain’s return. .Meantime the Prime Minister is consulting the Dominions, whose support is uncertain.

A GERMAN OBJECTION. LONDON. June 9. The first German comment upon the Pact is:—“lf it is true that Franco obtains any right to march through Germany, a Pact is impossible.” MR RAMSAY M ACDONALD'S VIEW LONDON. June 9. Mr Ramsay MacDonald Inis sent a message to Mr Delian, Labour candidate for the Ayrburghs hy-eleetion, denouncing tlie Government's handling of affairs, declaring inter alia: “The Labour Government's work in pacifying Europe has been largely undone. We steadily decline, once more, into that net work of militarist diplomacy which

requires armies for its support and eventually brings them, to battle.”