FOUR POWER PACT

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1933, Page 5

FOUR POWER PACT

SIR J. SIMON’S VIEWS Equal State Rights TO AID LEAGUE’S PRINCIPLES. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY. June S. A despatch from Sir John Simon to tin* British Ambassador at Rome, commenting on the aim and purpose oi the Four Power “agreement of under* standing and cooperation.’’ is incltvled in the White Pai er containing the text of that document, issued to night. 'Flic despatch states:— “Throughout the negotiations. we made it clear that the proposed agree neat should in no sense be regarded as a substitute for. Or as set in oppo sit ion to the Covenant of the League, it is not a niece of rival or competing machinery. but is framed for tin' | urposp of operating within the ambit of the ('ovenant. and is intended t<> aid in the maintenance of the princi pies for which the League stands. The methods and procedures which may fall t.> b? studied or adopted under the agreement, are strictly in accordance with the spirit of the Covenant.” Sir John Simon also emphasises that the | reposed agreement was never intended to invoke any attempt on the part of the Four Powers, if not to impose jheir will on other States,! a least- to establish < heme«l ws as a kind of directory in J’niopo. *uch a conception would be entirely foreign to the principles of the Covenant, which recognises tie* equal right ot all States, just as in ajpropriate cases it- requires their unanimity. “I have been,’’ he added, “at pains to explain the attitude of His Majesty’s Government in this matter io the representatives of other Powers, and particularly to Belgium, Poland, and the Little Entente. By the form in which the proposed agreement has finally been assumed. 1 am confident that any such erroneous impression will be completely eradicated. In this connection, I may refer in particular to the last paragraph of the pre ample to the agreement, which speci fically states that the four Powers are mindful of the rights of every State, which cannot be affected without the consent of the interested party. There can therefore, be no possible doubt that the object of the agreement is to ensure that, over many years to come. France, Germany, Italy and ourselves may agree in Europe upon lhe same policy of peace. That is an object which must be generally ap proved, and it is entirely consistant with the aim and spirit of the League Coveant, and with due respect for the rights of 'other Powers. Sir John Simon points out that the agreement. which contemplates a quadrihiterial examination in respect to methods of procedure, is ex pressly stated to Im “without pre judice on the decisions which can only be taken by the regular organs of the League of Nations.’’ Throughout the day, conversations took place at Pari?? between the Bri tish, French and American represen tatives. Lord Londonderry, Captain Eden. Mr Davis, M. Daladier. Al. Don four and Al. Leygues took part. A communique states that the represen tatives oi the three Governments ex changed views, in a confidential and friendly’ spirit, respecting the present situation of the Disarmament Conference, and what remains to he done to assure its success. ITALY’S GRACEFUL GESTURE. ROME, June S. As a special gesture to France, following the initialling o f the Pact, Signor Mussolini has pardoned Professor Charles Eydoux, head of the French I Military Academy’ L’Ecole Polytech- I niquo, who was sentenced to imprison- ' meat for espionage on the Italian Yugo-Slav frontier. (Received Juno 9 at 10 p.m.) PARIS, June 9. AT. Daladier, the French Premier, is unlikely to experience any difficulty in securing a majority for ratification of the Paet. Mussolini's speech is favourably received by all sections of the press. SATISFACTION IN ITALY. TEN YEARS’ PEACE ASSURED. (Received June 9 at 10 p.m.) PARIS, Juno 9. “The Times’s’’ correspondent at Rome states that no achievement by Afussolini has aroused more genuine general satisfaction than the initialling of the Four Power Pact, which, despite modifications which were essential, the ideas of the original project have been maintained. Europe is assured of at least ton , years’ peace. BRITISH DRAFT APPROVED. GENEVA, June 8. The General Commission accepted the British draft as a basis for a future Disarmament Treat}’. JAPANESE SIDE-ISSUE. GENEVA, June 8. The General Commission adjourned until July 1. The Japanese announced their acceptance of the prohibition of aerial borpbing, subject to the abolition of aircraft carriers; also an agreement preventing civil aircraft being used for military purposes in war-time. The British and American delegates objected to ape a introducing side issues, which shot '<l be examined by the permanent Commission.