LOCARNO CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1925, Page 4

LOCARNO CONFERENCE

[Australia & N.Z, Cable Association.] ALL POINTS SETTLED. LOCARNO. October 10. All the points in dispute, including the Eastern documents, have been settled. A document embodying the Security Pact, and the various arbitration treaties is at present being typed for the initialling. The Locarno Pact has been initialled. The concluding communique enumerates the document initialled as billows:—A Treaty between Germany, Belgium, Prance, Britain and Italy; an Arbitration Convention between Germanv and Belgium; one lietwceit Germans- and France; one between Germany and Boland ; and one between Germans' and Czoeho-Slovalsia, all ot which will he .signed in London on December Ist. Furthermore, separate

agreements have Itcen concluded between France, Boland. and Czechoslovak in, arising out ol the loregoing, and they will in due course he deposited with the League of Nations. The proceedings wound up with cordial speeches bv Mr Chamberlain, M. lSriaml. Signor Mussolini, and Dr StiTscmaim. The last-named joyfully greeted the result as a great development of the idea of European peace, and he hoped the treaties would mark the beginning of a period ot common co-operation among the nations. LONDON. October 17. The western Security Pact and various arbitration teaties have all been initialled at Locarno. It is stated they will he published in ail tiie capitals on Tuesday morning. This decision was reach,ed at the request of the Germans " in order to enable them, to give the necessary explanation to their Government and tlm German public."

It is announced the documents will he signed formally in London on December 1. and an ext rordinary assembly of the League of Nations will Billow at Geneva on December loth lor the admission ol Germany to the League. After the initialling, moving speeches were delivered. Dr Strcsemann declared, on behalf of Germany, that he adhered without reserve to the various decisions arrived a t. M. Behind thanked Dr Stresvmann for his attitude, and said France would show her appreciation. Mr Chamberlain and M. \ andervelde (Belgium) and Signor -Mussolini alse spoke. M. Ilriand then thanked Mr Clianiherlain, and said that, although lie had not been named President of the Conference, he in reality acted as Mil'll. The final scenes in Locarno were dramatic. The historic town was specially decorated. and thousands ol people gathered in front of the Conference Hall. M. Rollin apnenred, holding up the Treaty to the public view, whereupon there was a great outburst ol enthusiasm. M. Ilriand and Dr Luther came to a window ami shook hands in lull view of the crowd. Then M. Rollin called Mr Chamberlain, who was greatly cheered. Earlier in tlm day Mr Chamberlain had been serenaded by a hand in eelehrain:ii u| his birth,day, and a little girl, dressed in the Swiss national eustiime, presented him with a basket ol orchids on he lat 11 of the Mayor, and a crowd assembled in I roof ol his hotel. Mr Chamberlain and las wile appeared on ! lie bah'ont. ami bowed I heir ai know - ledge 1 lie 11 t-. Masses of llnwers came from in' l.uihcr. Signer Mussolini ami ut hers. AI. Ilriand Ki'anee) declared that he would b" lacking in the spirit of justice if lie tailed to recall and saluio the act n| courage, wherein lay the origin ol I lit - i onlerenee. namely thr Sirescmnun tuento.raljiluill In I lit Freneli Ginenimcnt on February “ill. Between Fra lice and Germany t D'- !'■; were still points of friction, and the Pact i.iu-t be an oiiiii'neoi lor 1 ; i -1 1 wound... Mr ( 'he mil id.IIII ai: v.. 'ring a ipie - tioll by Ihe ' Built Express " , ~rfe.-, poiuleui. --sal Ihe lb lie !i eiiniinii lueiP da! not 1 iver-i ep lu !*.i rll i men la i y .I. - ela i'a t nuis. Idle ( d'l iiia n eleven lii hour al l em.pi to secure a written guarantee of iln' evacuation of Cologne on a spoeilie date failed, d lie Allies were adamant and held in li.e previous ari':l 11 .elm'll l to evacuate after Ihe rat idea! ion of tile I’.l: I . I he Polish i|Ueslion pas been ,Tailed up. hut the manner is not vet di-elos-ed. Ihe Hole-, however, say the lili tish delegates have saved the sittla-

the Beil iii com men I i - ri".( rai lied pending Die public:! I ion of the documents. lull the " N'os.siehe ZcilUllg" ay- the peoples of Europe have advanced a further step inwards peace. Mos| oj the London papers wit liliold comment. pending receipt of the details. The "Times" says: "The little town ol Locarno, beautilul among the mountains :it the northern end of I,ago Alaggoire. has now its assured place in history. The worst ol the long travail Is over. .Storm-tossed, and disillusioned hy the startling emitrast between their brilliant hopes and their incredibly sordid experience, the peoples are vaguely i tiered 1! lolls of a real (ertai.n peace. The shadows pi that incredulity. that prolonged disillusionment, may linger a little while, hut the light of a new dawn is at last breaking upon the world. The Treaty of Locarno is a genuine treaty of peace.” The "Times ” goes op |p say: “The profound significance of the Locarno meeting is that the chief belligerents in the war have solemnly hound themselves to make ihe maintenance of pence in Europe, an ntl’nir of their mutual honour.” It adds: "The war is over at last. Something new is beginning. There has been a petty, time, nils suggestion that, by committing the country to Hie guarantee ol peace on most of the dangerous frontiers in Europe, the Government- may he pledging the rising genera linn to a new war in an uncertain tuture. ibis suggestion is ridiculous. For lis to c be. mi, HI Europe would l,e to call down upon our

heads the danger of many indefinite conflicts, into which we might suddenly he [dunged. The only alternative was to pledge ourselves with the Euro-

man Bowers nearest ourselves to a oinf endeavour to keep the pence. (N'e were in the war. We are definite-

lv in the peace, to our own happiness and to the relief of Europe." Tim •• Daily Mail" says: "The point whit It lias -truck the l!riti.-h public i- that the bitterest intrigue-

against the Treaty have been from the Soviet representatives. Fortunately they have been without success, due desire of the 801-hevik- i- n keep Europe in a state of turmoil, unrest and confusion, and thus promote anarchy and revolution." The' ••Daily Herald" -ay.-:-It would he foolish to conceal, even at

t..e moment of congratulation, a suspicion that one of the aim- of British diplomacy in Locarno has been the is-dation of the Koviec Union and its confrontation by a solid hloe of European states. If that suspicion is not justified, if there is not a mental reservation in the professions of pacifism then the Pact will be n substantial gain.”

NEW YORK, October 1 fi. There is it probability of a disarmmament Conference following the Locarno agreement, according to Sir Esme Howard, the British Ambassador, who arrived to-day to resume his post at Washington. He said: “There is now hope for the future that there will he a restoration with France and Germany together again on an amicable basis. WASH I NGTOX, October 10. President Coolidgo regards the Locarno treaty as an indication of remarkable progress in an event of the greatest importance to the world. The. President behoves that it will enable ■similar agreements to be reached on other’ important European questions, and thus lead to disarmament. In his opinion it would go far towards insuring tin’ success of an American Disarmament. Conference such as he had planned to call last spring.