THE PEACE PACT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 August 1925, Page 3

THE PEACE PACT.

♦- GERMANY WILL REFUSE PASSAGE FOR TROOPS. IN POSSIBLE CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA. (deceived Thursday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 13. It is expected that M. Briand will depart for Paris in the morning. The text of the French reply, as approved, ~ will be submitted to the Allied Governments and despatched for Berlin speedily. . , ~ The "Daily Telegraph’s* • diplomatic correspondent states the reply follows the lines already forecasted. Its underlying purpose is to facilitate direct conversations between the Allies and Germany How these will be conducted seems to be uncertain, but M. Briand is opposed to the idea Of a plenary conference and favours at present verbal exchanges ■ through Ambassadorial channels, followed by conversations among Allied and Germany jurists. The draft Pact and arbitration treaties will merely have served as a basis for discussion. The draft Pact was lengthily discussed, not only by M. Briand and Mr. Chamberlain, but separately by th« respective experts. A tentative agreement was reached on several points. Mr. Chamberlain insisted, in accordance with the Cabinet’s instructions that a League pronouncement was necessary before France should cross the demilitarised zone, but there is still diffidence on France’s side in this respect. It is quote sure that as soon as the jurists of the interested parties have agreed on technical points, the Allied and German Foreign Ministers will meet, ■ hut no date or place has been fixed. Dispatches for Berlin indicate concern over the report that M. Briand and Mr. Chamberlain have agreed that Germany must waive her demand for the annulment of article sixteen tof the Covenant before entering the Leagde. Authoritative quarters state that Germany -will insist on this demand on the ground that she has only as army of 100,000, while her neighbour! are armed to the teeth. It is further contended that Germany, being disarmed and powerless, could not permit the passage of foreign troops through her territory or participate in armed action against Russia. If the Allies, attach importance to Germany’s joining the League, the demand for the passage of troops across Germany must be dropped.