Security First Step to Peace

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 9

Security First Step to Peace

GENEVA DISCUSSION RESOLUTION BY M. BONCOUR By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright GENEVA, Saturday. A desire to speed up progress toward definite decisions manifested itself yesterday at the Assembly of the League of Nations. The German delegate, Count Bernstorff, and the British delegate, the Earl of Lytton, briefly interveniKl in the debate, in order to appeal for a cessation of oratory and for ati immediate and detailed examination of the propositions submitted. As though at once taking the hint. M. Boncour, France, rose and submitted his important motion that a preparatory Disarmament Conference should be held to co-ordinate agreements and define the articles of the Covenant of the League regarding arbitration. BOIMCOUR’S ELOQUENCE M. Boncour’s motion will probably be eagerly discussed throughout Europe during the week-end. The picturesque French orator, as he faced the crowded attendance in the Class Hall, could not refrain from devoting half an hour's eloquence to the submission of the proposal, in which he traversed much old ground. The crux of his proposition was that the proposed Disarmament Conference should study the question of the extension of security by a modification of the provisions in the Protocol, in the direction of graduating the respective obligations under the Protocol in accordance with the special geographical situation of each signatorv, as well as the conclusion c, regional arbitration agreements. ATTEMPTED COMPROMISE M. Boncour’s proposition was really meant to combine the Norwegian and Dutch theses, and to strike a compromise between the solid majority of the members of the League, who still worship at the shrine of the Protocol, and regard universal and compulsory arbitration as a panacea for all ills, and their opponents, who are headed by the British Empire. It also embodies the idea of the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, for extending guarantees such as the Locarno Treaties to other regions. Mr. Boncour summed up his aims as a desire for the present Assembly to give a fresh impulse to disarmament by so improving the state of security of the world that the success of the Disarmament Conference would be assured. The committee begins its consideration of M. Boncour’s motion on Monday, after which it will probably sit twice a day. CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS The Disarmament Committee of the League began a detailed consideration of the various motions. It took first the Norwegian proposal for an international arbitration treaty. On the motion to approve of the principle and to draw up a draft. Sir George Pearce, Australia, asked of what advantage it could be, seeing that many countries, including Australia, would in no circumstances approve of arbitration cu all questions. Pie v.-as reassured that he would in no way be committing himself by approving of the drafting of a treaty, since the draft would later be submitted for approval. In any case the acceptance of the treaty would be purely optional. The great fight in the movement headed by M. Boncour, France, to attempt to induce the British Empire to accept a modified form of the Protocol will begin in the same committee on Monday.—A. and N.Z.