WHAT LOCARNO MEANS

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1926, Page 9

WHAT LOCARNO MEANS

HOW FRANCE REGARDS IT.

GUARANTEE AGAINST IVAR. TRIBUTES TO BRITAIN. (By Cable.—-Press Association.—Coi>yri£iH.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, February 26. In the Chamber of Deputies, a debate on the Locarno agreements w*e appropriately marked by most friem.ly utterances towards Britain. M. Boncour, in opening the proceedings, drew applause from all sides by reroiniscently declaring that in the event of the violation of a neutrality which had been guaranteed by Britain, the latter had intervened with unsuspected forces. Discordant strings were harned on by the Communist, M. Cachin, who spoke of the "Imperialist British policy" of a group of European nations against the Soviets, also by Colonel Fabix who criticised the lack of precision in defining Britain's obligations. The latter said that the agreement was full of loopboles. M. Briand at once jumped up and warmly asked: "When a country like Britain placed all her sea, landi and air forces at the service of a cause, did that mean nothing?" M. Briand added: "The agreement assures that Britain stands by- France, like Italy, Czccho-Slovakia and Poland. If he had bad that in 1914 we ehould not have had war." The discussion was adjourned.— (Reuter.) A NEW ZEALAND PROPOSAL. RESENTED BY CANADA. LONDON, February 26. A story has been in circulation in Dominion circles to the effect that a delicate position recently arose through the reported intention of New Zealand to introduce a bill to ratify the Treaty of Locarno. It is stated that an echo of this story from the Dominion's office reached Canada, on whose behalf urgent representations were made that if New Zealand took the action indicated it would embarrass the other Dominions. Finally a threat was made that Canada would retaliate by bringing down a bill against the treaty. However, in response to Downing Street influences, New Zealand is said to have stayed her hand. As a result a cablegram received tonight from Canada announces that the anti-Locarno idea has been abandoned. It is thought the threatened conflict was overcome by an assurance being given to Canada that the whole question of the Empire's foreign policy, including the Treaty of Locarno, will be discussed at the next Imperial Conference.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)