PROPOSED PACT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 383, 15 March 1937, Page 5

PROPOSED PACT

WESTERN EUROPE. HALO-GERMAN OPINION. Replies to British Overtures. Press Association—Copyright. London, March 14. No agreement to replace the Locarno Paot in Western Europe will be agreed to by Italy and Germany unless all signatories are free of com mitments, it is' understood. They would not sign while such treaties as the Franco-Soviet pact are in force Replies in these terms have been made to Britain’s overtures. Italian and German replies concerning the proposed pact were drawn up in consultation, ft is uders od they make reservations concerning the Franco-Soviet pact and its alleged incomputability Ith L ■ arn'o Th<" British Cabinet will probably consider the replies on March 17. According to the Morning. Tost' Rome correspondent, th 1 -li • -olanalyses- the. various factors which have come into play since .the -rlnt” of the original Loca ' o Pact, iuclu ing the Franco-Soviet pact, Belgium’s declaration of neutrality, and the alleged Franco-British military rn-’er-standing, ft argues that these must be discussed with a view to heir limlnation before ary new T.- ca-n” can be created. The gist of the German repl'v ss"the Morning Post’s diplomatic oerret pondent, is that a new Western pact is only possible if all sign’.forte’ tree of commitments. In other word It would' be incompatible with th-Franco-Soviet pact and France’s alliances with Poland and Czecfl"’'o"". kia.

According to some reports, th" G man reply includes a proposal for *h guarantee of the Franco-German *-on tier by Britain and Italy.

American Peace Plan.

Press Association —Copyright New York, March 14 The Roosevelt administration is closely watching developm ntsahrond in the hope that an opportunity wll‘ arise for the presentation: of pn crican peace plan and th: urtaf ment of armament programm-. les the Washington correspondent ' the Times. The State Department confirms the report that President Roosevelt is anxious to come to tho assistance of Europe. Officials declared that the President is not employing tit d” partment to determine the reaction abroad to such proposals, but V is readily admitted that the President will not hestlate to use extraordinary diplomatic channels for his inquiries.

The President’s keen sense of th” dramatic is emphasised and an an nouncement that he is undert”ki"g this role in world politics w"S”" preliminary warning would not be unexpected.