RENUNCIATION OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 9

RENUNCIATION OF WAR

BRITISH NOTE GIVES KEEN SATISFACTION TO UNITED STATES

INVITATION TO DOMINION GOVERNMENTS ■

fO BECOME ORIGINAL PARTIES TO MULTILATERAL TREATY

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.)

Washington, May 21.

Canada and the Irish Free State will be directly invited to participate in the negotiations for a general anti-war treaty, and the other Dominions and India through the British Foreign Office.

(Australian Press Association.) (Rec. blay 22, 8.25 p.m.)

Washington, May 21

The State Department has onnounced: “In the British Note Sir Austen Chamberlain informs this Government that His Majesty’s Government has been in communication with the Dominions and India and ascertained that they are all in cordial agreement on the general principle of a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. Sir Austen added that he felt confident that the Dominions and the Government of India were prepared to accept the Invitation to participate in the conclusion of such a treaty. The United States had received this information tvith the keenest satisfaction. Telegraphic instruction was to-day sent to the American Ministers at Ottawa and Dublin and the American Ambassador at London to deliver to-morrow Notes inviting the Dominion Governments and the Government of India to become original parties to a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. The United States Government has proposed the simultaneous publication of the text of the invitations next Friday morning.’” All the invitations, it is understood, will be identical and will, contain statements of what has occurred in accordance With Sir Austen Chamberlain’s recommendations.

State Department’s Next Step.

A forecast indicates that the State Department’s next step may consist merely of the re-submittal of the original telegraphed treaty. The hope is that all that will be necessary can be, set forth in an additional article or perhaps in a preamble confirming the understanding and interpretations reached through diplomatic exchanges which have occurred. It is unknown whether the invitation to other nations to adhere may be sent before any treaty is signed. Mr. Kellogg, however, has < made it clear that- all Governments I would be tn arihere to the pact. I

British Note Leads to Optimism.

Further study of the British Note today by the State Department has confirmed the first impressions and led to optimism, that was increased by the Paris Press report that the French Government will be substantially, if not completely, in accord with Sir Austen Chamberlain’s views. There is, however, no diminution in the American opposition to the fourth article of the French draft treaty, specifying that the contemplated convention shall not abridge the structure of all existing treaties. The hope here is that the British Note will stand eventually as the unqualified acceptance of the Kellogg draft. Article 10 of the Chamberlain Note, it is now felt, may be found to be only a specific declaration of Britain’s intention to defend all its lines of communication, In which 'ease it would amount merely to a definition of selfdefence rather than a reservation. It is pointed out that Mr. Kellogg has already declared that the right of selfdefence was inherent in any treaty.

Definitions of Understanding.

Officials to-day oppose the : suggestions that an International conference might be the best means of adjusting all differences. They felt that the exchange of diplomatic communications constituted in themselves complete definitions of understanding, upon which the Powers are acting. It was admitted, however, that if these same understandings were contained briefly and comprehensively, possibly in the pre-

' amble Of the treaty, they would through the Senate and Parliamentary ratification take on a force not contained in their present form. BRITAIN AND DISARMAMENT INTERNATIONAL ACTION ESSENTIAL BEFORE FURTHER’ REDUCTION (Australian y Press Assn. —United Service.) (Rec. May 22, 8 p.m.) London, May 22. Mr. Baldwin, acknowledging a petition containing 100,000 signatures, asking acceptance of the 1919 standard of disarmament as the basis of general disarmament, wrote to the National Council for the Prevention of War stating that the maintenance of peace and the prevention of war Inspired the whole foreign policy of the Government. He hoped to still further reduce armaments through common action and agreement with other nations. If Britain alone proceeded ’further to disarm, there was no guarantee that others would follow her example, and no British Government dare run this risk. It would make her a prey to hostile forces, excite cupidity and hostile intention, and encourage instead of prevent war. Further clisarjnanientary steps must be the result of the combined action of all countries. The Government would co-operate in a work of this nature, but it was impossible to pledge in advance that any given standard of disarmament would be adopted.

ANGLO-AMERICAN ARBITRATION TREATY

PROPOSALS BEING CONSIDERED

(British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, May 21

Sir Austen Chamberlain was asked in the House of Commons whether the United States Government had submitted any proposals fo'r the conclusion of conciliation and arbitration treaties between America and Great Britain on similar lines to the treaty which had just been signed between America and Germany. He said that the United States Government had made proposals for a new arbitration treaty to replace the Anglo-American arbitration treaty of 1908, which would expire on June 4. These proposals were receiving careful consideration at the hands of the British Government. No proposal had been made by the United States Government for a conciliation treaty, because there was already stich a treaty in force between the United States and Great Britain, namely, the Anglo-American treaty regarding the establishment of a Peace Commission, signed at Washington, December 14, 1914. He saw no reason why this treaty oi- the conciliation treaty now being negotiated between the United States and a number of foreign countries should be abrogated, if. as he hoped would be the case, the proposed treaty for the renunciation of war became an accomplished fact.