OUTLAWING WAR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 July 1928, Page 11

OUTLAWING WAR

BRITISH REPLY. DRAFT TREATY ACCEPTED. FULL TEXT OF DOCUMENTS./ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 20. The Prime Minister to-day released tor publication the following documents with reference to the proposed multilateral pact .or tlie renunciation oi war: (I) Text of reply made on behalf of New Zealand i-rom tire oi State for Foreign Anairs at London to- the United states Charge d’Affaires at i.ondou, dated July 18, 1928.

"Sir, —In the Note which you were so good as to address to me on June SA last you stated that the uo\eminent of the united States would be glad to be- informed whether Jtiis Majesty’s Government in New Zealand jvvere willing to join with the United states anu otner similarly disposed Governments in signing for the renunciation of war in the form or the draft treaty enclosed in your Note. 1 now beg leave to inform you that His Majesty’s- Government m New Zealand desire to associate themselves with the terms of the Note which 1 have had the honour to address to you today, notifying you of the willingness of His Majesty’s Government in Great liritain to sign the multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war as proposed by the Government of the United States.

His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand desire me to add that they will have tlie utmost satisfaction, in co-operation with His Majesty’s Governments in other parts of tile British Umpire, in joining with tlie Government or the United States and with all other Governments similarly disposed, in signing the treaty in the form proposed. — (Signed) Austen Chamberlain. (2) Text or' reply made on behalf of Great Britain from tlie Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the United States Charge d’Affaires at London, dated July 18, 1928: Sir, —T. am happy to be able to inform you that aiter a careful study of the Note which you left with me on June 23, transmitting the revised text of tlie draft of the proposed treaty for the renunciation of war, His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain accept the proposed treaty in the form transmitted oy you, and will he glad to sign at such time and place as may be indicated tor the purpose by the Government of the United States. My Government have read witli interest the explanation contained in your Note as to the meaning of the draft treaty, and also the comments which it contains upon the consideration advanced by other Powers in previous diplomatic correspondence. You .will remember that in my previous communication of May 19 I explained how important it was to mv Government that the principle should be recognised that if one of the parties to this proposed treaty resorts to war in violation of its terms the other parties should be released automatically from their obligations towards that party under the treaty. 1 also pointed out that respect for obligations arising out of the Covenant of the League or Nations and of the Locarno treaties was the foundation of the policy of the Government of this country, and that they could not agree to any new treaty which would weaken or undermine these engagements. The stipuation now inserted in the preamble, under which any signatory Power which seeks to promote its national interests hv resorting to war against another signatory is to be denied the benefits furnished 1 by the treaty, is satisfactory to my Government, and is sufficient to meet the first point mentioned in the preceding paragraph. His Majesty’s Government in Great di-itain do not consider, alter mature reflection, that tlie fulfilment of the obligations which they have undertaken in the Covenant of the League of Nations and in the Treaty of .Locarno is precluded by their acceptance of the proposed treaty. They concur in the view enunciated by the German Government in tlieir i\ote of April 27, that those obligations do not contain anything which could .conflict with the treaty proposed by the United States Jovernment. My Government have noted with peculiar satisfaction that all parties to the Locarno treaty are now invited to become original signatories of the new treaty, and that it is clearly the wish of the United States Government that all members of the ...eague should become parties, either jy signature or accession in order that as many States as possible may participate in the new movement, I trust chat a general invitation will be extended to them also.

As regards the passage in my Note of Aiay 19 relative to certain regions of which welfare and integrity constitute a special and vital interest for our peace and safety, I need only repeat that His Majesty’s Government in Treat Britain accept the new _ treaty ipon the understanding that it does not prejudice their freedom of action in this respect. lam entirely in agreement with the views expressed by Air. Kellogg in his speech of April 28, that the proposed treaty does not restrict or impair in any way the right of selfdefence, as also' with his opinion that each State alone is competent to decide when the circumstances necessitate recourse to war for that purpose. In light of the foregoing explanation, His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain are glad to join with the United States and with all Governments similarly disposed in the form transmitted in your Note of June 23, a definitive treaty for the renunciation of war. They’ rejoice to he associated with the Government of the United States and other parties to the proposed treaty in their further and signal advance in the outlawing of war.