THE FOUR-POWER PACT.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20878, 10 June 1933, Page 11

THE FOUR-POWER PACT.

SURVEY BY SIR JOHN SIMON. TO GO-OPERATE WITH LEAGUE. (saITISH OFFICIAL WIFELESS.) RUGBY, June 8. A dispatch from Sir John Simon to the British Ambassador at Rome, commenting on the aim and purpose of the Four-Power "Agreement of Understanding and Co-operation," is included in a White Paper containing the text of that document, which was issued to-night.

The dispatch states: "Throughout the negotiations we have made it clear that the proposed agreement should in no sense be regarded as a substitute for, or as set in opposition to, the Covenant of the League. It is not a piece of rival or competing machinery, but is framed for the purpose of operating within the ambit of the Covenant, and is intended to aid in the maintenance of the principles for which the Covenant stands. The methods and procedures which may be studied or adopted under the agreement are strictly in accordance with the spirit of the Covenant." Sir John Simon also emphasises the point that the proposed agreement was never intended to invoke any attempt on the part of the Four Powers, if not to impose their will on other States, at least to establish themselves as a kind of directory in Europe. Such a conception would be entirely foreign to the principles of the Covenant, which recognises the equal right of all States, just as in appropriate cases it requires their unanimity.

Britain's Attitude.

"1 have been at pains to explain the attitude of his Majesty's Government in this matter to the representatives of other Powers, and particularly to Belgium, Poland, and the Little Entente," says Sir John. "By the form which the proposed agreement has finally assumed I am confident that any such erroneous impression will be completely eradicated. Here I may refer in particular to the last paragraph of the preamble to the agreement, which specifically states that the Four Powers are mindful of the rights of every State which cannot be affected without the consent of the interested party. There can, therefore, be no possib l " doubt that the object of the agreement is to ensure over many years to come that France, Germany, Italy, and ourselves may agree in Europe upon the same policy of peace. That is the object which must be generally approved, and # it is entirely consistent with the aim and spirit of the League Covenant and with due respect for the rights of the other Powers." Sir John Simon points out that the agreement, which contemplates a quadrilateral examination in respect to the methods of procedure, is expressly stated to be "without prejudice to decisions which can onw be taken by the'regular organs of the League of Nations." Throughout the day conversations took place in Paris between the British, French, and American representatives. Lord Londonderry Captain Anthony Eden, Mr Norman Davis, M. Daladier, M. Boncour, and M Leygues took part. A communique states that the representatives of the three Governments have exchangd views in a confidential and friendly spirit respecting the present situation of the Disarmament Conference, and what remains to be done to assure its success.

MUSSOLINI PRAISED. FAVOURABLE COMMENT IN FRANCE. (Received June 9, 7.5 p.m.) ROME, June 9. No achievement by Mussolini has aroused more general satisfaction than the initialling of the FourPower Pact. Despite modifications the essential ideas of the original project have been maintained, and Europe is assured of at least 10 years' peace. A message from Paris says that M. Daladier is unlikely to experience difficulty in securing a majority for the ratification of the pact. Mussolini's speech has been favourably received by all sections of the press. MUSSOLINI PARDONS SPY. ROME, June 8. As a special gesture to France following the initialling of the FourPower Pact, Signor Mussolini has pardoned Professor Charles Eydoux, who was found guilty of espionage.

[Professor Eydoux, who was head of the French military academy, L'Ecole? Polytechnique, was sentenced at Rome on February 4to five years' imprisonment for espionage on the Italian-Jugo-Slav frontier, it being alleged that the professor had spent his holidays unearthing military information in Italy. Under an amnesty the sentence was later reduced by two years.]