EASTERN LOCARNO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 230, 11 September 1934, Page 5

EASTERN LOCARNO

Poland's Refusal to Join (Received 11, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10. Geneva telegrams state that Poland, by refusing the join the proposed Eastern Locarno Pact, brought the project to the verge of collapse, causing Britain and Fanee to renew efforts to persuade Poland to modify her attitude. The Eastern Locarno Pact seems to bo' the only present hope of reviving the Disarmament Conference. GERMANY ALSO STANDS OUT (Ilecoived 11, 1.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 10. The Government has forwarded a memorandum to Britain and other interested Governments refusing to join an Eastern Locarno Pact, adding that Germany cannot enter such an International treaty while certain Powers refuse Germany equality in armaments. Germany, amid highly armed states, must be especially cautious and cannot assume an obligation which might involve her in all possible Eastern conflicts, probably making Germany a battleground.

The Eastern Locarno proposal put forward by Erance in July envisages a pact of mutual assistance between Erance, Russia, the Baltic States, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany. In addition, there was a further feature which would connect Russia with the existing Locarno Treaty. This was to take the form of a guarantee on the part nf Russia to Fiance, on the one hand, and to Germany, on the other, in the event of conditions arising which would bring the original Locarno Pact into operation. Also specifically there would bo an assurance offered by France in respect of the boundaries of Russia and the boundaries of Germany on Germany’s eastern side,