THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1925, Page 7

THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

SECURITY PACT DRAFT. GREATER PART ADOPTED. GERMANY AND THE LEAGUE. (Dy Cable.—rrcsa Association.— Copyright.) (Received lO.v'o. a.m.) LOCARNO, October 14. A communique states that after hearing the juridical experts' report, the conference decided to adopt the greater part of the final draft of the security pact, reserving a few points for further discussion. It is unofficially announced tiiat the Allies have given Germany assurances recognising her special situation in regard to Article 10 of the Covenant, thereby enabling her to join the League of Nations. This has created confidence that the pact will be finally signed in a few days. Much progress has also been registered concerning minor points, such as the Rhineland occupation.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) GERMANY'S ACQUIESCENCE. SIGNATORIES TO THE PACT. LONDON, October 14. All accounts from Locarno, Switzerland, agree that the terms of a Western European security pact have been settled at the conferoneo between the representatives of the Powers concerned. The only obstnele to its adoption lies in concessions which Germany is demanding as the price of her acquiescence. It is regarded as very probable, however, ; that the pact will be initialled or signed on Friday, which will be the 03rd birth- ' (lay of Mr. Austen Chamberlain, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The French are insistent that the signatures shall actually be affixed to the pact. M. Briand, French Foreign Minister, said he was prepared to remain at Locarno indefinitely, and that unless the pact were signed there perhaps it would never be signed. The Locarno correspondent of the "Morning Post" gives the main points in the proposed pact as follows: The preamble declares that the signatories pledged themselves not to make war against each other. To this Germany has agreed as far as the west is concerned, but she steadfastly refuses to give a similar pledge against her eastern neighbours. HAGUE WORLD COURT. Secondly, the signatories pledge themselves to bring any juridical disputes which may arise among themselves before the Hague World Court or a mutually acceptable conciliatory board, the members of which shall consist of one national from each country, with a third from a neutral country. If these agencies cannot effect conciliation or a solution then the dispute shall be referred to the League of Nations. The signatories further pledge themselves to respect existing treaties. The famous article referring to Germany's admission to the League merely states: "Germany will join the League of Nations." The assurances given by Herr Stresemann. German Foreign Minister, regarding Article 16 of the Covenant of the League are, of course, outside the pact. The document affirms that the status of Italy and Britain as far as the western treaty is concerned are similar and identical, and the signatories eqnallv guarantee the Belgian and French arbitration treaties with Germany. GERMAN AIR ACTIVITIES. The correspondent adds that Herr Kempner, a German delegate, took a document to Berlin in which the Allied delegations affirmed that they were not authorised to promise special treatment to Germany as far as Article 16 is concerned, but undertook to use their good offices to secure special recognition of her geographical situation. Having secured one written undertaking the Germans are now seeking another to cover a number of concessions. The most important of these is the removal of the restrictions on aircraft building activities, and similar privileges to those of the Allies as regards the crippled aviation industry. Other German demands relate to the early evacuation of the Cologne and Saar regions. Herr Stresemann and the Chancellor, Dr. Ltither, emphasise the necessity for the writing of a document in order to placate the German Nationalists and German public opinion. The Germans, moreover, argue that succeeding Allied Governments might not regard the verbal promises of the present delegations as binding. M. Briand on the contrary is steadfastly opposed to giving written pledges, even for the private consumption of the German Cabinet. This is the position at present. NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETE. The Locarno correspondent of the "Daily Express" repeats the rumour that a colonial mandate is among the concessions to Germany. Earlier messages stated that the conference sat for 00 minutes yesterday afternoon and examined the proposed arbitration treaties, also the question of Germany's eastern frontier. News received in London enables the "Times" to state that the pact negotiations at Locarno have beon completed. Tt is expected that the signing of the pact will be undertaken on Friday. The underlying principles have been that the pact shall be the simplest possible instrument for the preservation of penop, and of the status quo in the west. Whereas it provides a path for (he future settlement of other difficulties, it is understood that the formula making Article 1(3 of the covenant of the League palatable to Germany will not be included in the pact, but will take the form of an indenondpnt declaration hv the signatories to the pact. This will safeguard the League's prerogative. It is foreshadowed that once the pact has been signed, Britain is likely to evacuate Cologne under satisfactory evidence of German disarmament. France, too, may I*? expected to agree to a reduction in her armies of occupation.— (A. and N.Z.—"Times.")