PERMANENT PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 5

PERMANENT PEACE

THE SECURITY PACT FRANGO-BRiTISH CONVERSATIONS REPLY TO GERMANY. Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, August 12. It is expected that M. Briand will depart for Paris in the morning. The test of the French reply as approved will be submitted to the Allied Governments, and despatched to Berlin diplomatic correspondent of the 4 Daily 1 Telegraph ’ slates that the reply follows the lines already forecasted. Its underlying purpose is to facilitate direct conversations between tho Allies and Germany. How tbeso will bo conducted seems to be uncertain. M. Briand is opposed to the idea of a plenary conference, but he favors at present ‘a verbal exchange through Ambassadorial channels, _ followed by conversations among Allied .and German jurists. The draft of the pacj and arbitration treaties will merely have served as a basis for discussion. The draft pact was lengthily discussed; not only by M. Briand and Mr Chamberlain, but separately by the respective experts, and a tentative agreement was reached ou several points, Mr Chamberlain insisted, in accordance with the British Cabinet’s instructions, that a. League pronouncement was necessary before Franco should cross tho demilitarised zone. I hero are still some differences on France s side m respect to this issue. It is quite sure that as soon as the jurists of the interested parties have agreed on the technical points the Allied and Gcrninn Knroigu Ministers will but no date or plaoo has been fixed. Despatches from Berlin indicate concern over tlio report that M. Briand and Air Chamberlain have agreed that Germany must waive the .demand - for the. annulment of Article XVI. of tho Covenant before entering tho League. Authoritative quarters slate that Geriiumy will insist ou tins demand oi] the ground that she has only 1 an army of 100,000, while her neighbors are armed to the teeth. It is further contended that Germany, being disarmed and powerless, could not permit tho passage of foreign troops through her territory, or' participate in armed action against Russia. If the Allies attach importance to Germany’s joining tlio League the demand for the passage of troops across Germany must be dropped.—A. and N.Z, Cable. | Article XVI, of the League Covenant relates to the coercive measures to be applied to any member of the League resorting to war in disregard of the Covenant,] CONFERENCE WITH GERMANY. PROSPECTS GOOD. LONDON, August 12. ‘ The Times ’ says that M. Briand’s visit has been entirely successful, and something really definite has been accomplished. The cliief concern of Mr Chamberlain and M. Briand has been to fit tho Pact into existing European arrangements and make it a practical issue and a measure genuinely efficacious for peace by linking it up logically, legally, npd historically with the Peace Treaty and the League Covenant. Germany is now invited to participate in tins' profitable discussion. Never was the prospect more favorable. It is clearly to Germany’s advantage to pursue the most hopeful political effort sho lias made since the war. A Foreign Office communique says that the meetings between Air Chamberlain and AI. Briand sensibly improved tlio prospect of conversations taking place in the near future, which should lead to a final result.—A. and N.Z. Cable.