THE SECURITY PACT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1925, Page 1

THE SECURITY PACT

AN G LO-F li E NCii CONFERENCE. [Australia &■ N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, August 12. A remarkable circumstantial account of Yesterday's conversations between Hr Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary), and Al. Briand (French Foreign Al.ini.ster) is given by the “Daily Telegraph’s’ diplomatic correspondent. who states that 31. Briand s draft reply to Germany was examined sentence by sentence. Air Chamberlain and his Lieutenants were decidedly pleased with the, general tenor of the document which is short and conciliatorv and is calculated to let inmate the era of formal memoranda. It was inevitable that certain remarks contained in the German .Note should be rebutted, such as the possibility of coercive sanctions, and the possibility of modifications in the occupation regime. A communique issued at the conclusion of to-day’s pact conference between Mr Chamberlain and 31. Briand states the conversation is proceeding satisfactorily. Air Chamberlain gave a banquet to M. liriand and bis colleagues, the American and Allied Ambassadors being present. Itegarding the outstanding pom namely treaty revision, arbitration treaties between Germany and her Eastern neighbours, and independent sanctions, these are touched upon, rather than discussed, the idea being that they could be more appropriately thrashed out at a conference of flic German and Allied Atinistors, or at a full international conference, after the* League Assembly. French circles, however, last night discounted the idea of a meeting between Dr. Stosemann and Allied .statesmen at Geneva, or the idea ol Germany I icing admitted to the League in September. The “Daily Telegraphs’’ diplomatic correspondent proceeds to discuss the tentative draft for a pact, which Al. Briand lias .submitted to Air Chamberlain. Its underlying conception, lie says, recalls the Belgian Neutrality Treaty of 1830, and the Luxemburg Treaty of 1867. There is a lengthy preamble, m the course ol which Biitain. France. Belgium and Germany soiemnlv declare, that they will, loi the sake of European peace, respect each other's existing frontiers. The chief section relates to the circumstances wherein the- guarantees would operate. The French would like to establish a series of migrant- cases wherein the guarantees would operate as it were, automatically; whereas the British Government would reserve the right to intervene only in such a flagrant ease as an armed invasion by either side, also reserving the right to judge whether a case is flagrant or not. They have also questioned whether, in any decision involving war. a specific prior reference will be made to the British Parliament- and the Dominions. The draft pact and arbitration treaties were frequently referred to yesterday. but no decisions were taken. The divergencies of opinion are still ' substantial. The “Daily Chronicle’s” diplomatic correspondent expresses the opinion that once an agreement is clinched, regarding a reply to Germany this morning. the other documents will lie discussed. but it- probably will only bo fully debated at a later stage.