LOCARNO CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1926, Page 2

LOCARNO CONFERENCE

WHAT LED TO IT. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, March 1. Dr Stresemaiin, who is writing for tho “ Morning Post,” a series of world articles, reveals that it was at the London Conference in August, 1924, from which the Dawes Plan emerged, that induced him to issue his Security Memorandum in February, 1920, which lodj. to the Locarno 'Conference. He expressed the opinion that the general physiological significance of Locarno was more important than its practical application. “ We are standing,” Dr Stresemaiin says, “ at the gate of a new era, and if all tho nations are animated by goodwill to continue working together on the basis of Locarno, we are* sure to reach the great goal of the pacification of Europe and the replacement political distrust by mutual eoiifidj^iec.” UN APPRECIATIVE FRENCH COANj M UNISYS. M. BRLVXD’S RETORT. LONDON, Feb. 28. The Chamber debate on the Locarno v Agreements was appropriately marked by most friendly utterances towards Great Britain. M. Boneour, in opening the proceedings, drew applause from all sides by reminiscently declaring that in the event of a violation of neutrality by Great Britain, the latter had intervened with unsuspected forces. Discordant strings were harped on bv the Communist. M. Caehin, who* spoke of the Imperialist British policy of a group of European nations against the Soviets. A discordant note was struck by Colonel Fahrv, who eritiesed the lack of precision in defining At. Briand s obligations. lie said the agreement was full of loopholes. M. Briand jumped up and warmly asked: “When a country like Groat Britain placed all her sea. land and air forces at the service of a cause, did that mean nothing ?” M. Briand added: “The agreement assures that Great Britain will stand l,v France, like Italy .Czecho-Slovakia and Poland. If we had had that m 1914 we should not have had war.” Tho discussion was adjourned.