SECURITY TERMS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 2 June 1925, Page 9

SECURITY TERMS.

BRITAIN TO GUARANTEE

RHINE. A FRENCH FORECAST. CIBLI—PSESS ASROCUTTOJt—COrrWQHT.) (arena's TiLxaaiits.) PARIS, May 31. The diplomatic correspondent of the Ilavas News Agency confirms the report that Great Britain and France have virtually agreed in regard to the principal points of the Note to Germany in reply to the German proposals for a Security Fact. It is thought that the remaining details will be settled in time to enabie the Note to be sent to Berlin within a fortnight.. Great Britain declares her readiness to use all her strength to guaranteo the integrity of the Rhine frontier. She refuses to pledge herself to military intervention in the event of Germany violating the eastern frontiers, but repeats her desire to fulfil faithfully, her engagements under the peace treaties. Consequently, in the event of a conflict, Great Britain would probably be brought to support, diplomatically, tho claims of tho State attacked.

Great Britain also admits that France should retain completo liberty of action as conferred on her by the League covenant in coming to tho defence of tho integrity of the eastern frontier. The military forces of France in this case would have to receive free passage through Germany.

EASTERN FRONTIERS. FRANCE WANTS FREE PASSAGE. (AUSTRALIAN AHD N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received June Ist, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Dniy Telegraph" expresses the opinion that Mr Austen Chamberlain's memorandum had a most gratifying reception in French Government circles. M. Briand (Foreign Minister) set his heart upon a compromise whereby France would bo allowed to help. Poland by free passage across the Ehine zono. The Allied Covenant, however, ordains that the League Council must record a unanimous vote before action is taken in an intermediate dispute, and another before military action is undertaken.

Paris messages indicate a general belief that Mr Chamberlain offered Franco a 30-years' guarantee on the German western frontier.

The Paris cprrespondent of the "Morning Post" asserts that M. Briand, like M. Herriot, desires the inclusion of France's Polish-Czecho-Slovakian Treaty frontiers, but Britain considered that it would bo hard to convince the Dominions that the Empire has to be defended on the Vistula.

"Le Temps" suggests that the difficulty could be overcome by giving France the right to cross the demilitarised zone on the Rhine-in order to go to the aid of her eastern neighbours. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" says England will aßßume no military responsibility in the event of trouble on the Polish frontier. While England favours the creation of the Cologne area as a demilitarised buffer zone between Germany and France, she reserves entire liberty of action.