TREATY BREACH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12532, 18 April 1935, Page 5

TREATY BREACH

BRITAIN .RE-AT'FIRMS LOCARNO PACT WILL NOT HOLD WITH. LEGAL QUIBBLE: INDICTMENT OF GERMANY NO UNANIMITY at geneva (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.) LONDON, Aprl 16. The Daily Mail’s Geneva correspondent says that Sir John Simon to-ctay reaffirmed Britain’s determination to honor the Locarno pact, which is regarded as particularly sig nificant at the present juncture, anil is. considered in some quarters ns a warning to Germany against further violations of the Versailles Treaty. Sir John Simon wa.s unwilling to mention any specific situation necessitating intervention, but the declaration is interpreted as meaning that Britain will not shirk responsibility by a legal quibble, which has. giv.m Franco greater satisfaction than any other event in recent yearsThe indictment of Germany for violating the Versailles '1 reaty is meeting unexpected difficulties, Poland and Denmark being the stumbling blocks. There have boon interview.-; amt talks behind the sceues throughout the day. Dr. P. R. Funch explained to Sir John Simon and M. Laval that Denmark believed that the resolution would antngonino Germany still further against the League. The South American delegates arc not concerned with Germany’s side of the controversy, but fear that sanctions similar to those in the draft resolution might ho applied in South American disputes. M. Laval, in order to reassure 'the South Americans, said that, ho was willing to restrict the sanctions to breaches of treaties m Europe. Dr. Towfik Rustu. Bey raised a further difficulty by advancing tho claim that Turkey had the right to re-fortify the Dardanelles, if Bulgaria, Austria, and Hungary were allowed to increase their armaments The mooting of the council was again postponed until later in the day. It is reported that this is due to a hitch over the appointment of rapporteurs of the French demand for a ccml cm nation of Herr Hitler. France's desire to use the phrase “condemns the policy of Germany” R understood to be the difficulty surrounding the -selection <>T tne three rapporteurs. The latest gossip Is that Franco wll submit a motion direct to tlio. council without reference to rapporteurs, in which ease there appears to be a chalice of the Council, by n majority vote, denouncing Germany’s breach of the Versailles Treaty. VIOLATION OF TREATIES condemned GERMAN REARMAMENT THREAT TO SECURITY -'British Official Wireless. \ RUGBY, April 10. It was decided at Geneva to-day. at a meeting between Sir John Simon, Baron Aloisi, and At. Laval, that Britain and Italy should assocato themselves with a resolution condemning any unilateral, violation of treaties, which is o be moved by France at the special meeting of the League Council. . The three-Power revolution, which was considered by the Council in the evening, was as follows: “(1) That the scrupulous regard of all treaty obligations is the fundamental principle of international life, and is an essential condition of the maintenance of peace. “(2) It is an essential principle of the law of nations that no nation has power to liberate itself from the engagements of a treaty, nor modify its stipulations except by the consent of the other contracting principals. “(4) That by this unilateral action the German Government confers upon itself no right. “(5) That this unilateral action, by introducing a new and disturbing element into the international situation, munt necessarily appear to be a threat to European security. “(6) Considering on the other hand that the British, and French Governments, with the approval of the Italian Government, communicated to the German Government as early as February 3, 1935, a plan for general settlement to be freely negotiat ed for the organising of security in Europe, and for a general limitation cf armament?, in a system of equality of rights, while' ensuring the active co-operation of Germany in the League of Nations, and that the unilateral action. of Germany was not only inconsistent with this plan, but was taken at a. time when negotiations were actually being pursued. “(a) Declare that Germany ban failed in the duty which lies upon all members of the international community to respect the undertakings which they have contracted, and condemn any unilateral repudiation otf international obligations. "(b) Invite the Governments which took the initiative in the plan of February 3, 1935, or which gave their approval of it, to continue the negotiations so initiated, apd, in particular;, to promote the c-onclus-s:on within the framework of the League of Nations of tho agreements which, may appear to attain ! the object defined in this plan, due account being taken of the obligations of tho covenant, with a. view to assuring ' the maintenance of peace"(c) Considering that the unilatom al repudiation of. international obligations may endanger tho existence oif the League of Nations as an organisation for tke maintenance of prince ami the promotion of security decides that such, repudiation, with-

out prejudice to the application **f measures already contained in ,r----tcrnatioual agreements, calls into play ‘ all appropriate measures on the part of members of the League of Nations, within the framework <J tho covenant, and requests that ft committee should propose for this purpose measures rendering the covenant more effective in the organisation oif collective security, and define in principle the economi c and financial measures which might be applied- in future to a State, whether a member of the League at Nations or not, endangering peace and repudiating its international obligations.” This long resolution win cuppovted in turn hv M. 'Laval, Sir John Simon, and Baron A lois: GERMAN PRESS REJECT RESOLUTIONS. REGARDED AS; CHALLENGE. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Rev. April 17 10.5 p.m.; BERLIN, April 17. Newspapers unanimously reject the Geneva resolutions, which are regarded as a'challenge. “If the League ifi so ignorant as- to claim for itself the role of an infallible judge over M beaten Germany, then Germany will findi it most difficult to return t‘> Geneva,” says the Volkisclier Bc-o-baeliter. “The time has passed "when ft great, unite,:- nation will submit to an arbitrary interpretation of interna tionnl treaties.”