FRANCE AND U.S.A.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 80, 14 January 1928, Page 5

FRANCE AND U.S.A.

IMPROVING RELATIONS. NEGOTIATIONS FOR TREATY. M. BRIAND LOSING CONTROL. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) PARIS, January 12. A fresh communication from the United States Secretary of State (Mr R. B. Kellogg) in reply to M. Briand, suggests that the principal Powers should participate in the preparation of a draft declaration against war. 'Political circles deduce that the whole negotiations are slipping out of M. Briand's control, and French diplomatic officials most likely will find solace in an arbitration treaty between France and United States, to which all efforts are'now directed.

A DISCREPANCY. REPLY BY MR KELLOGG. NEW YORK, January 12. The Washington correspondent of the New York "Herald Tribune" says that Mr Kellogg asked France to-day to accept M. Briand's original proposal for the outlawry of war, with the inclusion of Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan. He explained that France's aggressive war proposal w r as extraneous to the present discussion. In a Note sent to M. Claudel, the original text of M. Briand's proposal has been made public. It is revealed that M. Briand requested a treaty of renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. Recent dispatches from Paris, giving the official view of the Foreign Office, expressed displeasure over the fact that the United States wanted to do this very thing. Mr Kellogg, noting this discrepancy, said: "I earnestly hope that this is of no particular significance, and that it may not be taken as an indication that the Government of France will find itself unable to join with the Government of the United States." OPINION IN BRITAIN. NEW WELCOMED. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 13. Official circles are impressed .by Mr Kellogg's new suggestion, that if France is agreeable to amend her reply, to outlaw all wars, instead of only those, of aggression, instead of signing a bilateral treaty prior to inviting, others to do likewise, there should be an invitation to an All-Power conference to discuss such a treaty. Downing Street opinion does not expect the least resistance on the part of Britain to take part in the preliminary discussion. Those well-informed predict that France will accept MrKellogg's suggestion. .