The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1928. THE PEACE PACT.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1928. THE PEACE PACT.

Jn the cable nows published on Monday, it was indicated, that Senator Borah had given his blessing practically to the multi-lateral anti-war treay. It would appear the Treaty is likely to be signed by some of the nations at no distant date. It is some time now since what is known atj Air Kellogg’s peace pact was forwarded to, the British Government, who in turn consulted the overseas dominions. In the interval some of the difficulties in the original pact have been considered by the nations to whom the Note was addressed. The outstanding difficulty concerned the obligations into which tile nations had already entered under the League Co-venant,-the obligations already imposed by treaties such as that of Locarno, and the special interests of nations, such as those of Great Britain in regard to Egypt and of France in regard to the security of its Eastern frontier. Reservations were suggested to meet these special eases. These reservations it has been pointed out by a contemporary have now been carefully considered, and the original draft of the proposed pact has been revised. Under the revised treaty it has been made clear that signatures would still be entitled to the rights of self-defence, and also apparently that the obligations of contracting P(Avers under treaties of guarantee, and arbitration, and the Convenant of the League would be in no sense compromised by the treaty, but that, on the contrary, they would be strengthened' by it. A great deal depends upon whether this is a correct interpretation of the latest Note. It is explained in England, and apparently with official or semiofficial authority, that the participation of the signatories of the Locarno Treaty would make it certain that a resort to war in violation of that agreement would also he a violation of tlio present proposed treaty. Thus the security given at Locarno is actually increased. Loyalty to France has liecn the keynote of much of Sir Austen Chamberlain’s policy. His hesitation to give unqualified support to Air Kellegg’s Peace Pact has been due in part to a -desire not to imperil in any Way either the Locarno Treaty or the present position of the League. France submitted a Afemorandum in which her objections' to the original draft were set out, and the new draft has been well received in Paris. The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs said, in answer to a question in the House of Commons, that the new Note marked a considerable advance, and it is reported to be receiving the most sympathetic consideration by the British Government. It is assumed that any further communications between London and Washington will now be directed towards strengthening the working of Air Kellogg’s plan. The Pact has been described -as the most hopeful proposal for the abolition of war that has been made since the Covenant of the League of Nations was drawn up in 1919. It is simple in its phrasing, proposing that the nations should sign a solemn declaration that they will never again use \var as a means of furthering their national policy. If adequate provision is made for other obligations there should be no serious obstacle to its acceptance by all the Powers. The negotiations which have been proceeding will delay the final consideration by the United States Senate till December—after the election of a new President. The Coolidge administration is of course with Afr Kellogg, hut the final word rests with the Senate, and in that respect Air Borah’s statement is interesting specially. On the whole it would appear the election of the new President will not imperil the proposal. Air Hoover would be sure to support the treaty for peace, and doubtless Afr Smith will be of equally peaceful intentions if the fates decree lie -is to ibe the next President.