ANTI-WAR PACT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1928, Page 3

ANTI-WAR PACT

<►- SIGNING PROCESS. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copj'right 1 LONDON, August 9. There is little fear in official circles that Mr Kellogg (United States Secretary) will fail to attend the Pact signing. Indeed, officials from Washington visited the Foreign Office to-day, en route to Paris, where they will assist Air Kellogg. High-placed personages similarly do not believe that Dr Stresemnnn (the German Foreign Minister) is diplomatically ill. It is understood that the Wilhelmstrasse has been definitely' told that the signing of the Pact is not an opportune occasion lor a talk on the Rhineland evacuation, which is a better topic for Geneva’s tea-tables. In any case, Lord Cushcndun (British Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) would scarcely be able to take up that subject with the same intimacy as Sir Austen Chamberlain.

It is noteworthy' that the official Pact invitations, which were issued to-day, omitted Spain and the other powers that are not signatory to the Locarno agreement.

Britain has deposited her Pact notes at Geneva with a covering letter reaffirming the opinion that the Pact does not conflict with her League obligations, and asking that these documents he circulated through the League channels. Tims they are certain to crop up at the September Assembly. A "SOLEMN FORMALITY.” PARIS. August 10. The French Government has issued invitations to the signing of the Kellogg anti-war pact for August 27th. The number of invitations was fixed in accordance with Mr Kellogg’s communication on June 23rd. Not until the replies are received will the exact character of the ceremony in the Clock Room at the Quai d’Orsay be known. It is hoped that the fact that invitations have been dispatched will put an end to the campaign that is intended to belittle the significance of the ceremony. The question of the uninvited Powers who desire to sign cannot be settled until the invited Powers have signed. The ceremony is expected to be little more than a solemn formality, with congratulatory speeches..

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. GENEVA, August 10. League of Nations supporters are frankly delighted at Britain’s action whereby the Kellogg Pact will come before the League Assembly. It .is considered most likely that a resolution will be introduced recommending all the members to sign it. NAVAL LIMITS. LONDON, August 9. The “ Daily Chronicle’s ” diplomatic correspondent states lie lias been informed tlfat the Anglo-French naval agreement provides that the cruisers wdth six or eight inch guns shall be limited in number; secondly, that the cruisers more lightly armed shall be unlimited; thirdly, a limit is placed-on the number of submarines of 600 tons and over, with no. limit to the lesser craft. .