PRESS PUZZLED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 6 January 1928, Page 7

PRESS PUZZLED

MR. KELLOGG’S INVITATION “INCONSISTENT WITH LEAGUE S MACHINERY." ALL POWERS PACT. London, Jan. 5. Mr. Kellogg’s invitation to the Powers puzzles the press, especially in view of the League Assembly’s resolution of September, beginning: “Firstly, all war is prohibited.” The “Daily Telegraph’s" diplomatic correspondent says: “France, naturally, has been gratified to obtain the American assurance that whatever conflict might occur between France and Germany, France would, in no circumstances, find America against her;' but if America should give a similar assurance to Germany, one assurance would merely cancel olit the other. So that in the event of a Franco-German conflict the belligerents would be able to rely merely on American neutrality,” The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says: “M. Briand hoped for a strictly private and personal treaty between the two great Republics, not envisaged m a treaty which Would be little more than a renewal of already existing arbitration treaties."

The “Post” editorially asks: “Did not the League recently pass a resolution much more sweeping than Mr. Kellogg’s note?” The “Daily Telegraph’’ says: “A multilateral treaty, such as Mr, Kellogfe contemplates is clearly inconsistent with the League’s machinery, and must be particularly unacceptable to the French Government, which has taken tiie lead in urging tlie case for tile protocol.” The ‘‘Daily Express” declines to associate itself with those critics who see only the pious gesture, intended to soothe that section of the American public which is agitated over the larger navy programme. “America has been the hope and despair of warwearied humai.ity. It may be she is rising at last to the glorious opportunity which history has assigned her.” The “Daily Mail" interprets M. Briand’s reply as tant mount to rejection of Mr. Kellogg’s proposal, which, if accepted, would establish a new association of nations under the aegis of Washington, and possibly in opposition to the League of Nations. M. Briand now proposes that France and America should sign a bilateral agreement, ■ similar to the separate agreements, being signable between the United States and other Powers, thereby, reserving the League’s independence and power to deal with international disputes arising outside of the United States.—(Sydney ‘‘Sun’’ cable). BRIAND CABLES WASHINGTON PACT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO SPIRIT OF COVENANT. Paris, Jan. 4. It is stated that M. Briand has cabled the French Ambassador in Washington that an all Powers pact would be contrary to the spirit of the Covenant and would prevent the League oi Nations having authority in coping with international disputes. ; WASHINGTON OPINION. Washington, Jan, 4. While th© expression of the willingness oi the American Government to enter a treaty, not only with.l l rance, but with the entire world, has taken .the wind out of the French sails, Washington opinion, in some quarters, is inclined to the belief that certain elements m France are now seeking to repudiate the “paternity ot the child of peace winch was laid by AL briund on the American doorstep.” Officials reiterate, that the value of the French projiosals lies in itfe applicableness to all Powers, and that this would gite a greater assurance of the preservation of world peace, While it is admitted that the proposal contains no provision for compelling obedience, it, nevertheless, is contended here that the moral obligation would be so great that, any nation violating its pledge would bring upon itsqlf the qohdemnation of the world.

The reaction of the arbitration treaty in Paris, Berlin and London has had a peculiar reverbation in Washington, particularly in so far as it concerns the French attitude. The first press reports from Paris, that the I'rench Government showed an unfavourable attitude to the American proposals, led to comment by an observer here that this was laying the foundation for irritation in Washington official quarters. A press despatch from Pans just received, stating that M. Briand is informing Mr. Kellogg that the French Government. looks with great favour upon the American proposal for a multilateral'pact outlawing war, is puzzling officials, because oi the first unfavourable reports. Despatches from London indicate that Britain is doubtful of the practicability of the Ainerican proposal, while a Berlin message states that M. Briand’s original proposal was designed for the .express purpose of getting bettor terms for debt settlement and to influence Washington opinion as the Dawes Plan revision. —(A. and N.Z.) CANADA AS INTERPRETER. Ottawa, Jan. 4, Mr. Kerr, former secretary to Mr. Lloyd George, addressing the Canadian Club, said Canada was best qualified to act as interpreter between Britain and the United States. It was Canada that made the Washington disarmament treaty possible. Canada.had signed the treaty and the Covenant to the League of Nations, and had expressed approval of the Locarno pact and therefore assumed responsibility in protecting world peace. Mr. Kerr expressed the opinion that if Britain and the United States had appointed delegates of similar calibre to those at the Washington Conference, the Geneva disarmament conference might have had different results.—(A. and N.Z.)