NEW NATIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 90, 16 April 1920, Page 7

NEW NATIONS

BREAK-UP OF AUSTRIA

BULGARIA'S PEACE TERMS

DEPLORABLE RUSH FOR ARMS.

(UKBB^ FfiESJ ASSOCIATION.—COPIP.IOB2.)

(AUSTRALIAN • NSW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, 14th April,

In the House of Commons, in moving the second reading of the Bill providing for the caraying into effect of the Austrian and Bulgarian Treaties, Mr. Cecil Harmsworth (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) emphasises the difficulties in Austria s case owing to the breait-up of the Empire. The principle of selfdetermination had^ not /been greatly violated, although the German population in the Tyrol, numbering a-quartor of a million, wcrs included within the new frontier of Italy. This was due to the pinnciple that strategic ■''"necessity must be recognised. The situation on the Jugo-Slav frontier was for the moment too delicate for profitable discussion. Regarding reparations, Mr. Harmsworth said that since the armistice the Allies bad acted with unparalleled magnanimity towards their former enernie.s. The most important article in the Treaty was that giving Bulgaria access to the Aegean Sea, which was not yet definitely settled. Mr. Asquith said that no v State 'in Europe had less justification for joining the Central Empires in the war than Bulgaria. She came at the most critical moment of the struggle, and Bulgariamust bear the heavy, responsibility for prolongation of the war, Therefore, the Powers generally had not' dealt harshly with her. Mr. Asquith uttered a jyarning against the risk of the Balkanisation. of Austria. He criticised the absence of provision for commercial intercourse between the new States. It was all important that we should recreate economic unity. The. Allies should insist on disarmament oi the_ new States, with a view to safeguarding the peace of Eastern Europe.

Mr. Bonar Law, replying, to the debate, agreed that it was deplorable the way small States were arming, but they were independent States, and any attempt to limit armaments would not be tolerated. He admitted that unless limitation of armaments was brought about the war would have been fought to a large extent in vain. The Lea.guc of Nations Covenant was embodied in these treaties, and it was the duty of the Government to do its utmost to make the League effective

The sacond reading was carried by 188 votes to 34. „