LOCARNO TREATY RATIFIED

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1925, Page 9

LOCARNO TREATY RATIFIED

BY HOUSE OF COMMONS position of British dominions and RUSSIA INTERESTING DEBATE /.' Mr. Chamberlain, in moving in the House of Commons the ratification of the Locarno Treaty, emphasised that the Government regarded the Pact, not as the end, but as the beginning of the work of appeasement and reconciliation. According to his information, Russia was not prepared to .■join the League of Nations on any terms. Replying to Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Chamberlain said he had constantly repuj diated any idea of pursuing a policy of uniting western civilisation against Russia. The House rejected the Labour ’ amendment to the ratification motion and ratified the ' Treaty by 375 votes to 13. /. . ■ By Telegraph— Pit ess Association.

(Rcc. November 19, 8.10 p.m.) London, November 18. ' The debate on the Locarno was opened to-day in the House of Commons, which was crowded. Mr. Chamberlain was warmly cheered > as he moved the approval and ratification of the treaty. He regretted that the Opposition had given notice of sn amendment, but pointed out that the amendment did not criticise the Locarno agreement or challenge the Government's policy of accepting the Mniited obligations of the agreement. Ke emphasised that the Government regarded the Locarno Pact not as the Mild but as the beginning of the work •w' appeasement and reconciliation. The ?-ocarno Treaty would assist the Coun;.'l and Assembly of the League, of Nations to bring the disarmament problem to a successful conclusion. RUSSIA NOT PREPARED TO JOIN LEAGUE. Mr. Chamberlain cjeclared that Russia, according to his information, was not prepared to join the League of Nations on any terms. He emphasised that Britain remained the sole judge of what constituted an immediate danger of war, and said he regretted it had been impossible to confer with the Governments of the Dominions and India before the Locarno Conference, but they had been kept fully informed of everything that had been done. Their liberty and freedom of action had been • safeguarded specifically in the treaty. It was recognised that ' only their own Government’s, acting with the authority of their own Parliaments, could take for them the obliga-. tion that the Imperial Government asked the House of Commons to approve for Britain, but the Government hoped, to discuss the matter fully at' tlie‘next'lmperial Conference, which he hoped would not be too long delayed. He did not think it possible to treat matters so important and covering so wide a field by dispatch of cable. Personal contact and explanation were necessary for a true' appreciation of the position. He concluded by appealing for, the ratification of the treaty, thus safeguarding peace aiid laying the. foundation for reconciliation and friendship with the enemies of a few years ago. NOT AN ALLIANCE AGAINST MOSCOW. Mr. J. R. MacDonald severely criticised the recent speech of Major Ormsby-Gore (Under-Secretary for the Colonies), on which he said the evil suggestions had been based that Germany had been brought into a new Alliance against Moscow. He asked if it was the Government’s view that the Locarno Treaty had been engineered for the purpose of uniting western civilisation against Russia. Mr. Chamberlain replied: "No, and I constantly repudiated any idea of pursuing' such a policy.” Mr. MacDonald said he was very delighted to hear it, and congratulated Mr. Chamberliin on his successful efforts to create a peace spirit. Bift he said that unless the opportunity were taken swiftly to seize the chance thus opened up, the harvest would never ripen. He added that as regards the Dominions and India he was unable to conceive a more calamitous system of conducting Imperial foreign policy than the method enshrined by the Locarno Pact. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S NOSEGAY. Mr. Lloyd George was more congratulatory than critical. He paid a tribute to Mr. Chamberlain and M. Briand, and especially to the Germans’ great act of courage. He declared that r' to the nosegays Mr. Chamberlain had received from different nations he would like to add the humble leek. He was of opinion, however, that the failure to'consult the Dominions was

error which might have grave consequences. Mt. Ponsonby moved the Labour amendment: "While agreeing to the ratification and expressing satisfaction at the impending entry of Germany into the League and the improvement in international relations evinced at Locarno, the'House’is of opinion that the real test of the treaty depends upon whether it is followed by disarmament, and regrets that it does not contain 1 a definite provision in that respect. The House is further invited to express the view that the Treaty should be followed by positive steps to secure the adhesion of Russia to the League and its participation in European agreements.” He said he thought the treaty could be interpreted as grouping the Western Towers against Russia, with the result of throwing Russia into the arms of Asia. • CONFERENCE WITH DOMINIONS IMPOSSIBLE. Mr. Chamberlain, replying to the debate, said he regretted that -the circumstances of the different Governments of the Empire had precluded the possibility of a with them . before the Home adviser? entered into negotiations with foreign countries. He did. not blame the Dominion Governments, which were unable to meet them .at a moment’s notice, but Britain had been faced with a situation which would not brook delay. He emphasised the desire to pursue a policy of full harmony, accord, and agreement at every stage with the Dominions, x and pointed out that the right had been reserved for the Dominions to adhere or not to adhere to the treaty. He hoped the incident would excite . a keener desire throughout the Empire to find machinery by which the foreign policy would become every act and every hour the. foreign policy of the Empire, and not the foreign policy of Britain. ‘ The House rejected the Labour amendment by 332 votes to 130, and the motion to ratify the treaty was carried bv 375 votes to 13.—Reuter.

LABOUR MEMBERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION (Rec. November 19, 11.55 p.m.) London, November 18. With the exception of some f two dozen, who abstained from voting, the majority of Labour members voted for Mr. Chamberlain’s motion.—Reuter. DOMINIONS KEPT INFORMED (Rec. November 19, 9.55 p.m.) / London, November 18. Replying in the House of Commons to Mr. Llovd George’s complaints of failure to consult the Dominions, Mr. Hurd said Mr. Chamberlain had informed the Domin.ons weekly of what was happening, but, with the exception of New Zealand, they had not replied, the reason being that- they had things nearer home to think about.—Reuter. LORD D’ABERNON TO RESIGN WHEN TREATY SIGNED Berlin, November 18. Lord D’Abernon states that he intends to resign the British Ambassadorship to Germany immediately the Locarno Treaty is signed in London. —Renter. [Lord D’Abernon, as British AmbaS; Sador. at Berlin, has done much to promote the renewal of friendship and the restoration of peace between the antagonists in the late war. Hie bette feeling between Britain and Germany owes much to his efforts. He, no doubt regards the Locartio Treaty as the seal of his'life’s work.]