Enforcing Security

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 285, 22 February 1928, Page 9

Enforcing Security

“LEAGUE SHOULD HAVE POWER”

ARBITRATION CONFERENCE

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 11.5 a.m. GENEVA, To-day. General De Marinis (Italy) in a speech before the Arbitration and Security Committee of the League of Nations, advocated multilateral security agreements. M. Boncour ably expounded the French views and endorsed Lord Cushendun’s remarks on the interdependence of security and armaments. France, he said, favoured arbitration under which a nation refusing to arbitrate would be regarded as an aggressor. The Locarno pact should be extended to other States. M. Erich (Finland) urged the conclusion of arbitration treaties as advocated by Sweden and Norway. The German delegate, Herr von Simson, in the course of half an hour’s speech, said it would be dangerous to create the impression that at present no security existed. However the mere prohibition of wars of aggression would not be sufficient. It would be necessary to establish a procedure for the pacific settlement of every form of dispute, including political ones. Conciliation seemed to be a suitable method, though he was still convinced disarmament was the best means of ensuring security. POWER OF ENFORCEMENT The Council of the League should have means of enforcing an obligatory armistice in the event of hostilities actually breaking out. The Japanese delegate, Admiral Sato, announced that his Government was at present engaged in a revision of the reservations generally attached to arbitration treaties. The JPolish delegate, M. Sokol, like other speakers, emphasised the connection between security and disarmament. A spirit of optimism prevailed at the session. There was an impression that definite progress at last is about to be achieved. This was probably due to the fact that the problem has been brought down .to the realm of realism. Certain members of the League see the British point of view more closely. Furthermore, the Prague Committee has accomplished valuable work in ridding the mass of original suggestions of much dross. When the committee adjourned it was the general opinion that the British point of view will probably be accepted.—A. and N.Z. -Sun.