EMPIRE AND LOCARNO.

Auckland Star, Issue LVII, 1 March 1926, Page 7

EMPIRE AND LOCARNO.

DOMINIONS NOT BOUND.

A WEAKNESS OF THE TREATY. BRITISH UNITY ESSENTIAL. (By Cable.—rress Association.— Copj-rlght.. (Received 10.30 a.m.) TARIg, February 2S. The importance which France attaches <o a united foreign policy for the British Empire was illustrated in the Chamber of Deputies on the third day of the debate on the Locarno Treat}-.'when M. >!arin voiced the opposition of the Right to the ratification of the treaty, from a military standpoint. M. Marin questioned the effectiveness of the piiarantors , intervention in case of a conflict and urged that one weakness of the treaty was the fact that the British Dominions were not bound by the pact. He said a Franco-British entent was necessary to civilisation (A. and X.Z. Cable.)" SEEDTIME NOW. WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE? PARIS, February 27. Cheers from every part of the Chamber of Deputies greeted an impassioned speech made yesterday by the Premier. M. Briand, in appealine for the ratification of the Treaty of Locarno.

M. Briaml expressed confidence that this effort for peace would be successful in all countries. The little ■ Locarno seed, he said, was already beginning to germinate. If it were to be crushed he hoped it would not be by a Freiu-ti foot. Mothers could now look 'at their children with the hope that they would not be the victims of war. Locarno would have effected much if it achieved only that. France and Germany had both proved their heroism. Both had established magnificent centres of production. Was that all to be eriven over to fire and the sword every 2o years? The Premier's thunderous "No." elicited c-heers from the entire House.— (Renter.)