LOCARNO DEFENDED

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 36, 6 November 1933, Page 8

LOCARNO DEFENDED

Effective Instrument for European Peace POWERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES (British Official Wirelees.) Rugby, November 3. Referring to the European situation during a speech at Skipton to-night, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Eden) said it was not’surprising that Germany’s withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference and League bad caused some concern and measure of unease in Europe. But there was no occasion for scaremongering. The situation coqld without doubt be redeemed. “To do so,” he said, “we must keep our heads and our engagements.” He proceeded to defend against certain criticisms the Locarno Agreement, which he described as one of the most effective instruments for peace in Western Europe. “The main instrument in that settlement,” he said, “is the Treaty of Mutual Guarantee. This is not an alliance of Britain and France against ’Germany—far from it. It is an inclusive agreement to which Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy are all parties. The arrangements made are purely defensive, and are supplementary to the League Covenant. They do not constitute in any sense an alliance between certain Powers directed against other Powers. Effect of Guarantee Treaty. “By this Treaty of Mutual Guarantee the signatory Powers, severally and collectively, guaranteed the territorial status quo resulting from the frontiers between Germany and Belgium, and Germany and France the inviolability of those frontiers, and the demilitarisation of the Rhineland. “The treaty is interwoven with the machinery of the League. With one exception the decisions to be taken under it must be taken by the Council of the League. The Council can take no decision except by a unanimous vote. Since Great Britain is a permanent member of the Council, it is clear, therefore, that no decision can be taken without our assent. “The only exception to this governing condition is that in the event of a flagrant violation of the undertaking not to go to war or of the demilitarisation of the Rhineland zone by one of the parties, we are bound immediately to go to the help of the injured party, if we are satisfied that the violation constitutes an unprovoked act of aggression, and that immediate action is necessary, but we are the sole judge as to whether this obligation has become applicable.” Nro Provision for Withdrawal. The Treaty of Locarno, Mr. Eden pointed out, contained no provision under which any of the parties could withdraw from it. Some critics had suggested that if such a course were possible, Britain would be less likely to be involved in any European war The very opposite was the truth. “We shall not avoid another war by saying that in no circumstances shall we go to the aid Of a Power unjustly attacked,” he said. “Britain is still a Great Power, and has the responsibilities of a Great Power. If we fear to discharge those responsibilities we shall invite the disaster which will follow. A policy of isolation to-day is a policy of folly. With the.development of air power England has ceased to be an island. Even if we would go back upon our word, we cannot.' But, of course, there is no question of our doing so. As Mr. Baldwin said recently, ‘What Britain has signed, she will adhere to.’ She adhered to her signature with regard to Belgium. Her signature to these Locarno agreements is sacred.”