OUTLAWRY OF WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1928, Page 2

OUTLAWRY OF WAR.

COMMENT BY “TIMES.” [“ The Times ” Service.] LONDON, May 20. The “Times” in a leader on the British reply to Air Kellogg, says it implies much more than mere acquiescence and suggests a display of initiative response and the British note clearly aims at advancing the movement and goes far to remove the difficulties that might have impeded the accomplishment of the purpose proclaimed by United States. The note marks a distinct advance particularly because it represents a renewal of active co-operation between the Empire and United States, directly useful to the world at large. Aloreuver the value and importance is enhanced because in the. new international enterprise the whole Empire speaks with one voice. A conference may now lie necessary. Undoubtedly it must be within the United States.

GENERAL SMUT’S VIEWS. ON KELLOGG PROPOSAL. CAPETOWN, -May 19. General Smuts, the former Prime .Minister, has made an important suggestion on Air Kellogg’s outlawry of war proposal. Ho regards it as reinforcing the League Covenant and believes that it will only function successfully in conjunction with the Covenant. To he reasonably reliable, it ought to lie followed up by an additional undertaking, more or less on the lines of Article 16 of the. Covenant, or ought to he looked upon as a. supplement to the League Covenant lliMsed on the economic sanction of that article.

He said that with the support of the United States behind his economicsanction the prospect of future peace on flic double basis of the Covenant and Air Kellogg’s declaration becomes far brighter and more stable. The complementary declaration, with the enthusiastic hacking of America, may well mean the rescue of Hie League from becoming tlie special concern and almost private property of any particular group of Powers. General Smuts points out that special defensive groups have arisen in Europe, not harmonising with the spirit of the League and involving war obligations on its members, and it was against these pacts and this system that the outlawry of war under the delaration bumped violently. The way out of this position would be to make all the signatories, not only of the Locarno Pact, but also of other defensive pacts, parties to the Kellogg declaration. The Locarno and other pacts must necesarily stand, but tliey woifld ail bo covered with the umbrella of the declaration. The effect then would bo that if the declaration were violated by an arbitrary aggressor the defendants would still lie able to fall back on the Locarno Pact, and other pacts as their second line of defence.

It was quite possible that the “umbrella.” might prove effective against (he storm, safeguarding the peace of Central Europe even more effectively than the patched-up arrangements of the last ten years. In that way Locarno would also prove to he but a step towards ultimate peace. General Smuts urges that it is vain to organise for world peace and leave out Russia. With all Central and Eastern Europe and Russia in the League or declaration, or both, the disarmament movement would enter an entirely new and most promising phase. He adds that if diplomatic correspondence fails to bring about unanimity America should call a conference of the Powers concerned.

PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, May 21. The “ Daily Telegraph’s ” diplomatic correspondent regrets that Britain did not send Washington a brief note whole-heartedly accepting Air Kellogg’s proposal without reservation, adding a memorandum to which British legal experts would have placed their reading of the American draft, and thus have avoided tlie chilliness of the legal arguments, tending to obscure tlie cordiality with which the British Government welcomes Washington’s initiative, and promises to support to utmost its power.

The correspondent asked : “ What is Sir A. Chamberlain's definition of Britain's Monroe doctrine concerning Egypt?” The “ Daily Herald ” describes the reply as “ a deeply disturbing document,” inasmuch as Sir Austen Chamberlain lays down a drastic series of limitations and reservations, following the lead set by tbe Paris Government note. These reservations, tbe “Herald” says, are not likely to satisfy America or the growing opinion in Britain which will demand more than lip service to vague ideals of peace and disarmament. Times devise legal means to cause filint principle to be applied iruithilly in the practice of the nations. That will he triumph enough for both American diplomacy and the peaceful desires of all countries.”

NEW YORK, May 21

In editorial comment expressing satisfaction at the British reply to Mr Kellogg’s outlawry of war proposal, the “New York Times” says: “No step which may he Inter found necessary can he regarded as a retreat from the main principle which now has been heartily endorsed by Britain, speaking also for the self-governing dominions of the Rritish Commonwealth. All that is left now is to give effect in the practice of the nations to tlie principle which has been endorsed.”

THE OTHER POWERS. WASHINGTON, May 20. Germany has given complete' approval of Mr Kellogg’s plan. Italy has avoided a definite statement, hut has signified her approval of the general idea. France has countered with a draft treaty against war that is regarded here as emasculating the Kellogg proposal to the point of complete ineffectiveness. Japan will submit a reply soon which is expected to indicate at least a general acceptance of the Kellogg formula.