LEAGUE AND LOCARNO.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 118, 21 May 1928, Page 9

LEAGUE AND LOCARNO.

'' The point is one of importance, because of its bearing on treaty, engagements by whieli His Majesty's Government is already bound. The preservation of peace has been the chief concern of His Majesty's Government and the prime object of all Jts endeavours. It is the reason why it has given ungrudging support to the League of Nations and why it has undertaken tho burden of guarantees embodied in the Locarno Treaty. The sole object of all these engagements is the elimination of war as an instrument of. national policy, just as it is the purpose of the peace pact now proposed. It is because the object of both is the same that there is no real antagonism between the Treaty engagements which His Majesty's Government has already accepted and the. pact which is now proposed. The machinery of the Covenant and of the-Treaty of Locarno, however, go somewhat further than the renunciation of war as a policy, in that they provide for certain sanctions for a breach of their obligations. A clash might thus conceivably arise between the existing treaties and the proposed pact, unless it is understood that the obligation of the new engagement will cease to operate in respect of the party which breaks its pledges <and adopts hostile moans against one of its co-con-tractants. For British Government respect for tho obligations arising ,out of the League Covenant and of the Locano Treaty is fundamental. Our position in this regard is identical with that of tho German Government, as indicated in its Note of 27th April., His Majesty's Government could not agiee to any new Treaty which would weaken or undermine these engagements on which the peace of Europe rests. Indeed, the public interest in this country in the scrupulous fulfilment of these engagements is so great that His Majesty's Government would for its part, prefer to see some such provision as Article 4 of the French draft embodied in the text of the Treaty. Tc this wo understand there will bo no objection. Mr. Kellogg has made it clear that he,has no intention by the terms of the new Treaty of preventing the parties to the League Covenant or to tho Locarno Treaties from fulfilling their obligations. ' CERTAIN VITAL INTERESTS. The language of Article 1 as to tho renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy rondors it desirable that I should remind Your Excellency that there are cortain regions of the world, tho welfaro and integrity of ; which constitute special and vital in- ; terest for our peace and safety. His Majesty's Government has been at pains to make it cloar in tho past that | interference with these regions cannot bo suffered. Their protection against attack is to the British Empire a moasu? of solf-defence. It must be clearly understood that His Majosty's Government in Great Britain accept the

new treaty upon the distinct understanding that it does not prejudice; their freedom of action in this respect TheGovernment of the United States has comparable interests, any disregard of which by a foreign Power it has declared that it would regard as an unfriendly act. His Majesty's Government believes therefore, that in defining its position that it is expressing the intention and meaning of the United States Government;" GLAD TO CO-OPERATE. The reply agrees that it is unnecessary to - wait until all the nations of the world have signified their willingness to become parties. "It would be embarrassing if certain States in Europe with whom the proposed participants are already in close treaty relations were not included among the parties, but the British Government sees no reason to doubt that these States will gladly accept it. The British Government finds nothing in their existing commitments whicr prevents their hearty co-operation in this new movement for strengthening the foundations of peace. They will glad-' ly co-operate in the conclusion of such a pact as is proposed, and is ready to engage with the interested Governments in the negotiations which are necessary for the purpose." DOMINIONS INTERESTED. The reply concludes by pointing out that detailed arguments in the foregoing are expressed on behalf of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain, and that the proposed Treaty is one in which- it could not participate otherwise than jointly and similtaneously with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions and the Government of India. As a result ot communication with these Governments it has been ascertained that they are all in cordial agreement with the general principles of the proposed Treaty, and on receipt of an invitation would doubtless be prepared to participate in its conclusion."