LOCARNO PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18549, 26 November 1925, Page 9

LOCARNO PACT.

DOMINIONS' OBLIGATIONS.

SPEECHES IN" HOUSE OF LORDS. (BY CABLE—PRSSS ASSOCIATION'—COrTKIGBT.) (RECTER'S TELEGRAMS.; (Received November 2oth. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON. November 24. In the House of Lords. Earl Balfour, speaking on the Locarno Treaty, said he was sure tho Dominions would realise that it was a great effort on the part of the Home country to secure peace. Tho Dominions would see that if ever war were forced on Britain through the Treaty, the moral forced of the world would bo behind her. In a war obviously defensive, and intended to check brutal and unnecessary aggression, not merely feelings of patriotism and common kinship would movo tho Dominions to sympathise with the Mother Country, but all tho elements of higher morality to which the Dominions wcro singularly alive, lie declared that war in Western Europe under the Treaty would be"both unjust and menacing tho heart of tho Empire. He was sure tho Empiro would then be united, and work for tho single purpose, the cause of peace and public and international morality. Lord Haldane expressed the opinion that it would be best to inform the Dominions of the negotiations as soon as possible, and leave them to judge. Lord Groy said that at least one uncomfortable speech regarding the Locarno Treaties had been made in tho Dominions, namely the speech of General Smuts. Lord Grey considered that tho debates mnst havo dono a great deal to explain*-the Treaties Towards tho Dominions, who must not regard tho Treaties as if they wero nol obligations upon Europe whatever. Ho pointed out the obligations under the League Covenant, and considered that they might b? explained to the Dominions. Britain welcomed tho Locarno Pact because, bv bringing Germany into the League, and by bringing Germany and France into political relations, tho possibility of disagreeable consequences arising from tho obligations under the Covenant had much diminished, and tho l/ocarno Treaties would diminish the risk tho Dominions already ran oit having to take serious action under the Covenant.

STATE BANQUET CANCELLED. (AUSTRALIA* AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, November 24. The State banquet and other festivities, which were to have been held on December Ist, in connexion with the signing of the Locarno Pacts, have been cancelled in consequence of Queen Alexandra's death.