SECURITY PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 6

SECURITY PROPOSALS

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

DOMINIONS SEEK TO SAFEGUARD

THE EMPIRE FIRST.

(UNITED' PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPIRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLS ASSOCIATION.)

(Received 20th: May, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, 19th May. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that the British Government is considering the proposed French reply to the German security proposals. The problem is most difficult, largely because France is endeavouring to' secure from the Reich the acceptance of" the perpetuity of all its eastern and. southern frontiers, whereas Germany refuses to agree to, permanency of the eastern frontiers. The constant haggling and wrangling that is going on between the Continental nations is creating impatience in Britain, and an even worse impression in the Dominions, where. the opinion is only a shade less unfavourable to the German-Allies Pact than .it was to -the' Anglo-French Pact. Dominion hesitation to accept the commitments of Europe is aggravated by the lack of goodwill and reasonableness on the part of the rival States of Europe, whose safety the: British Empire is expected to guarantee. Dominion opinion, moreover, considers that the safeguarding of Imperial, communications, is more urgent than the safeguarding of the European frontiers or even of the Channel ports. The Dominions may, however, be expected to heed the fact that ths best American opinion agrees with Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Austen Chamberlain that no effort should be spared by the Empire to facilitate European stabilisation.