INTERNATIONAL PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 4

INTERNATIONAL PEACE

TO 1 OUTLAW WAR GERMANY WILL SUBSCRIBE TO PACT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

WASHINGTON, April 30. The State Department has published Germany’s reply to Mr Kellogg’s outlawry of war treaty, with every indication of official satisfaction at the contents. Germany declares that she is ready to conclude a pact in accordance with* the American proposals, and welcomes most warmly the opening of negotiations for the outlawry of war. The Note states that Germany is convinced that her obligations under the League and the Locarno Pact do not conflict with the obligations proposed in the American treaty, but would rather strengthen the former. She further intimates that she sees J¥> neces-

sity for the proposed French reservations.

The Note points out that the dominating ideas of M. Briand’s and Mr Kellogg’s proposals tally w.tfi the German policy, which has no higher interest than that of abolishing the possibility of war and ensuring the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr Kellogg’s proposals nearly attain the goal. Tho reply adds that Germany has not entered into international obligations, similar to the proposed pact, except the League Covenant and the. Locarno Pact, which do not conflict with the American proposals. On the contrary, a binding obligation not to make war would strengthen both the Covenant and the Locarno Pact. Nevertheless, the proposals do not interfere with the sovereign rights of self-defence, because if the Pact were violated the other contracting parties would regain freedom of action. Tho Note emphasises the necessity of acceptance of the Pact, which it hopes will give an effective impulse to general disarmament.—Australian Press Association. BRITAIN ENTIRELY SYMPA- , THETIC. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, April 30. Tn the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain made a statement in reply to Mr Ramsay MacDonald regarding America’s proposals for a treaty to out law ivar. The Foreign Secretary said His Majesty’s Government warmly welcomed the proposal of the United States Government inat a further joint effort should be made to safeguard the peace of the world. They bad been giving close and sympathetic attention to the text .of the treaty proposed by Mr Kellogg and to the observations and suggestions regarding it oilcrod by the French Government. His Majesty’s Government did not doubt (hat this Franco-American initiative could he brought to a successful issue, but time was obviously needed for the examination of the various issues raised and of the important declarations and explanations given by’ the United States Secretary of State, of which tho last was only reported in tho Press that morning, as well as for consultation with tho dominions and with tho United States and other Governments concerned. He could not, therefore, at present indicate the date when a, discussion rould usefully lie held in the House, but in a week or ten days ho would bo able to make a. more specific statement as regards discussion. He hoped, however, that what bo said would be sufficient for the moment in regard to the attitude of His Majesty’s Government.