PEACE PACT PROPOSALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 June 1925, Page 9

PEACE PACT PROPOSALS.

WHERE DO BRITAIN'S OBLIGATIONS END?

BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION COP Y ElGll'i LONDON, June 20. The Daily Chronicle, in discussing proposed arbitration treaties by Germany with Lrance and Belgium, quotes a section of the French Note dealing therewith. Both .treaties are to apply to all disputes and “If one of the parties, refusing to submit a dispute to arbitratioii and carry out an arbitral award, resorts to hostile measures, - the guarantee under which Britain is bound to act would come into immediate operation. The Chronicle comments: “It appears from Mr. Chamberlain’s dispatch of May 28 that the British Government does not conceive the guarantee as obliging Britain to resort to force anywhere 'except in the guaranteed Rliineland area, but, in practice, if we had to take action it would be almost impossible to thus limit the sphere.’'’ The Chronicle concludes by viewing the scheme as a whole with profound scepticism. The uroposed Security Pact continues to evoke very strong ‘ criticism. The Daily * Express prints special cables from Melbourne, Christchurch, Ottawa and Cape Town, generally opposing commitment. The Expess editorially argues that the Pact is really uni-lateral because it compels Britain, to fight on the side of France whatever the justice or occasion of the conflict. If Germany invades the demilitarised zone, Britain ipso factot is at war With Germany, but is does not follow that Britain is at war with France if she crosses the zone in an assault on Germany. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says there is talk of appointing a committee of jurists for the purposes of defining what constitutes an aggression. Mr. Garvin, writing in the Observer commenting on the proposed Pact, says: Germany apparently recognises the permanent cessation of Alsace and Lorraine to France. This ought to mean the end of a thousand years’ feud. So far, nothing could be more satisfactory, but in some uncertain word,France seems to reserve right to attack Germany i n Polish interests without consulting Britain or the League. Upon this point searching criticism will fasten. The possibilities of an arbitrary attack will have to b© eliminated before any final Pact can be signed. Neither by Pact, nor protocol will Britain ru n any risk of being involved in a war against her own will and judgment.