PACT WITH REDS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 9

PACT WITH REDS.

INOPPORTUNE MOMENT CHOSEN. BRITAIN WILL NOT PROTEST. (BT CABLE—PRRSS ISSOCUTIOB—COPTWOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN A!TD S.I. CAB LB A3SOCIATICK.} (Received April 20th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 20. The '"Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic corespondent says that, though no protest is being made to Berlin with regard to the Soviet-German agreement, the general view in Britain is that the moment for the agreement is hardly happy. When the terms are published they will bo carefully scrutinised for a direct or indirect bearing upon the Locarno Pact. Apparently it is not considered feasible that the other nations which signed the Pact with Germany should see tho text of the agreement before it. is signed, but Dr. Benes, the Czecho-61o-valtian Foreign Minister, has sent a circular memorandum to all Powers, including Gormany, seeking to elucidate whether tho draft agreement is compatible with Locarno. Dr. Benes's memorandum has aroused resentment in Germany. If tho precedent of the Turco-Soviet Treaty is adopted, Berlin and Moscow will be bound to consult other Powers regarding the issues affecting their interests. The "Daily Telegraph's" Diplomatic Correspondent adds that Germany may thus be bound to report fully to Mos-, cow on all confidential dealings with other Powers and 'those with the League of Nations. "What is Germany's position if tho League decrees a boycott of Russia?" ho asks. The feeling of Poland is that if Moscow coneludes neutrality pacts with nearly all her neighbours, Poland will be deprived of the assistance it might expect from the (League in the ©vent of Bolshevik aggression. The "Daily Telegraph" ooncludes that if Berlin realised the importance of friendly collaboration with Britain in the task of European reconstruction, the intimation might be oonveyed to the Powers whose diplomacy prevented Germany's admission to the League, that, if iiheir tactics were renewed at Geneva, Britain would bfc compelled to regard Locarno aa scrapped by the Powers' action. GERMAN ACTION APPRECIATED. ("thk roras.") LONDON, April 19. It is learned that Sir Austen Chamberlain, British Foreign Minister, has informed Germany that the British view of the .Eusso-German treaty is not unfavourable. Moreover, Germany's action in informing the Locarno Powers before the' Treaty was signed, is greatly appreciated. Sir Austen Chamberlain says that he is convinced that when the full text is published it will bear out Germany's assurances that it fits into the framework of the Locarno Pact without preventing Germany from entering the League of Nations. Sir Austen similarly has communicated -with the ojJber Locarno Powers. '

Meanwhile Warsaw and Prague Governments are not reassured, and have written to Great Britain, Prance, and Italy, urging a discussion as to whether the Treaty affects Germany's entry into the League. Dr. Benes, Czecho-Slovakian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has drawn up a list of .questions for submission to the Locarno Powers expressing the hope that Germany will be able to return satisfactory answers before her entry into the League is possible.