EGYPTIAN TREATY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 March 1928, Page 5

EGYPTIAN TREATY

CANADA NOT A PARTY INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE REASONS FOR HOLDING ALOOF BY CABLE—FRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT OTTAW A, March 29. There is no comment here on. the Jit. Hon. W. McKenzie King’s announcement of Canada’s attitude toward the treaty between Britain anld Egypt. Speaking in t:he House of Commons the Prime Minister said: “Within the last few months the Government has asked in relgard to the treaty being negotiated, -whether Canada would become a party to- the terms of the treaty, which involved sanctions and contemplated military alliances. The Government replied that we did not believe the .Parliament of Canada would approve such a treaty, and that if Britain and Egypt, could Avork out the treaty along'the lines proposed, a Veil and good, but as far as Canada was concerned avc did not feel it in the interests of the British Empire or of the larger peace Avhich it was hoped the treaty avouM serve, that this country should be asked tio become a pau-ty to” it. The Britisih Government immediately accepted our vietv in reference thereto. ’ ’ • No suggestion is made in Canada that the .Prime Minister’s announcement was premature. REQUEST TO DOMINIONS. < NOT ASKED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. LONDON, March 29. In. the House of Lords, the Marquis of Salisbury, in ans Aver to a question apropos of the Rt. Hoii. W. L. McKenzie King’s speech regarding the Anglo -E gyptian Treaty, said the Dominions Avere fully informed throughout the negotiations for the treaty. They were not asked to share in the responsibility for the treaty, but to concur generally in the policy embodied therein. It was not in the public interest to publish' the frank exchange of views Avit’h the Dominions, and it Avas not proposed to discuss the very difficult subject, of Amglo-Dominion relations. Britain did not claim control of the Dominions in independent actions, but did not for that reason abandon confidence that the bond uniting them was a matter, of feeling and not one of obligation. A message from OttaWa states that with reference to the statement by the Marquis of Salisbury to the effect that Canada was not invited to participate in the Anglo-Egyptian treaty, Mr McKenzie King on Thursday night said: ‘ ‘ Canada was asked to be a party to the treaty, and should there be any doubt about it I should be glad, with the consent of the British Government, to have the correspondence in this connection tab-led. ’ ’

INVITATION WAS SENT. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT. Received 11 .a.in. today. OTTAWA, March 30. Shown the denial by the Marquess of Salisbury that Canada was asked to participate in the Egyption Treaty, the Rt. Hon. W. McKenzie King said: I don’t know what was cabled to London, regarding my speech, but what I did say is in Hansard, and the facts of the case are as stated' there. Canada was asked to be a party to the treaty and should there he any doubt about it, I would be clad, with the consent of the British Government, to have the correspondence tabled.”