THE LEAGUE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 September 1924, Page 5

THE LEAGUE

PRESERVATION OF PEACE

PROPOSALS

BRITAIN ANNOYED

BY CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION- COPY ttlUti. £ (Czechoslovakia) submitted to ,a r sub-committee of the League,of Rations the draft protocol om arbitration to prevent war. When both: mtrties agree to arbitration the Leaguers council will send a mixed commission to each country, for , the purpose of organising demflitansed zones, while other comtpissions will watch against mobilisation and increasing armaments. , 4, country refusing arbitration will pe:tconsidered an aggressor. The protocpl ; provides for military and economic against a country refusing arbitration or rejecting an arbitral award. The council will appoint a , - coruipission to study the most efficacious means of blockading an aggressor. . ; Members of the League signing the protocol will- notify the council what naval, military and-air forces, and also and financial resources, they are willing to place, to the League’s disposal. All the signatories undertake to participate in an international conference on disarmament, to he sumby the League, within a year. , ■ -I'he British, delegation is annoyed at r^the ; premature leakage of Dr. Benes’ - plan. They claim. the ■ French are disclosing secret, negotiations, adding • ethers which have not yet eventuated, hoping to pave the way suitable for a French triumph. , The Britishers summoned British journalists- to explain the position, and they declaimed that Dr. Benes’ document had not yet been agreed upon, although it was true that a modified agreement had been reached. ■

The British are determined to reject the . plan involving Britain’s naval arid military forces by prearranged fofmula, though; .they made . it clear that in the event of a situation similar to tfiat of 1914 rarising, in- which the world was threatened, they would unhesitatingly fulfil the League’s covenant pledges to defend peace and right.