PEACE BUILDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 7

PEACE BUILDERS.

NATIONS TO CONFER

US. Invitation To British Dominions. KEEN SATISFACTION. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) WASHINGTON, May 22 The Secretary of State, Mr. F. B. Kellogg, announces that in the British Note in reply to the proposal of the United States for a pact to outlaw war, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, informed the Government of the United States that the British Government had been in communication with the Governments of the Dominions and India.

He had ascertained that they were all in cordial agreement as to the general principle of the proposed multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. Sir Austen added that he felt confident the Governments of the Dominions and India were prepared to accept an invitation to take part in the conclusion of such a treaty.

The United States Government received this information with very keen satisfaction. Telegraphic instruction had been sent yesterday to the American Ministers at Ottawa and Dublin and to the American Ambassador in London, to deliver to-day Notes inviting the Governments of the Dominions and India to become original parties to a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. *

The United States Government had proposed the simultaneous publication of the text of these invitations next Friday morning.

All the invitations are understood to be couched in identical terms and to contain statements of what has occurred in accordance with Sir Austen's recommendations. It is predicted that the State Department's next step may consist merely of a resubmission of the original telegraphed treaty. It is hoped that all that will be necessary can be set forth in an additional article, or perhaps in a preamble confirming the understandings and the interpretations reached through the diplomatic exchanges which have occurred.

It is not known whether an invitation to other nations to adhere to the pact will be sent before any treaty is signed. However Mr. Kellogg has made it clear that all Governments will be encouraged to adhere to the pact.

Further study of the British Note yesterday by the State Department confirmed the first impressions and led to a feeling of optimism. That was increased by a newspaper report from Paris that the French Government is substantially, if not completely, in accord with Sir Austen's views.

However, there is no diminution in American opposition to the fourth article of the French draft treaty specifying that the contemplated convent cn shall not abridge the structure of all the existing treaties. The hope is expressed in Washington that the British Note will stand eventually as an unqualified acceptance of Mr. Kellogg'a draft.

It is now felt that Article 10 of Sir Austen's Note may be found to be-only specific declaration of Britain's intsntiOn to defend all her lines of communication. In that case it would amount merely to a definition of self-defence rather than to a reservation. It is pointed out that Mr. Kellogg has already declared that the right of self-defence it. inherent in any treaty. Officials yesterday opposed the suggestion that an international conference might be the best means of adjusting all differences. They feel that the diplomatic communications exchanged constitute in themselves complete definitions 'of the understanding upon which the Powers are acting.

It is admitted, however, that if thess same understandings were contained briefly and comprehensively, possibly in the preamble of the treaty, they would, through ratification by the Senate and by the various Parliaments, take on a force they do not contain in their present form.