PEACE IN OUR TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1925, Page 5

PEACE IN OUR TIME.

BRITAIN AND SECURITY. DIFFERENCES IN THE CABINET. "WHAT WILL AMERICA DO ? (By Cable. —Tress Association. —Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m., LONDON.. March 17. The "Dnilv Xews ,, says it is an open secret that member* of the Cabinet differed over the question of security, but this did not reach an acute stage. There i> not tlip slightest foundation for "Le Matin's"' assertion that Mr. Austen Chamberlain i* on the verge of resigning. (in returning to London he stated that the conclusion of the Paris conversations }iad naturally loosed a mass of speculation, but the whole matter was in a state of flux. Subsequent events would depend upon diplomatic negotiations, and the proci-e nature of the proposals of the President of the United States regarding a disarmament conference. The Rrticl? in "Lc Matin" has caused a considerable stir. The diplomatic correspondent of the '"Daily Telegraph"' says the article is partly accurate and partly inaccurate. It is no secret that Marquess Curzon and Mr. L. C. M. S. Ainerv, Secretary of State for the Colonies, were among the most resolute opponents of a pact between Britain I'rancc and Belgium, but what clinched the discussions in Cabinet was Earl Balfour's advocacy of a wider mutual pact to include Italy and Germany. The correspondent says the only difference between Mr. Chamberlain and liis colleagues was that he unheld the proposed tlire-? party pact as the first stage of an alternative to the protocol, and Germany's entry to the League of Nations as the second stage. The majority of the Cabinet, however, favoured rcerging the two stages. A mesage from Paris states that on his way back to London Mr. Chamberlain conferred with M. Herriot for two hours. M. Herriot said the}- were in agreement on all essential matters. — (A. and N.Z. —Reuter —'"Times"—"Sun.")