END OF PROTOCOL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 100, 28 March 1925, Page 5

END OF PROTOCOL.

DEFINITE REJECTION. REASON FOR WHOLE TROUBLE. LONDON, March 20. Mr Austen Chamberlain’s criticisms of the protocol, in his speech to the Council of the League of Nations, were more searching and more destructive than was anticipated. The Geneva correspondent of the Times 6ays: “Ho seems to have conveyed the impression that Britain had no use for universal peace protocols, and, instead, vculd put her faith in regional agreements based on the original covenant, and coming within the League’s framework. “The British attitude has profoundly depressed the Central and Eastern European representatives, who argue that Mr Chamberlain’s declaration amounts to a refutation of the League’s principles, and that the League might as well close down. This, of course, is a. gross exaggeration. Mr Chamberlain clearly indicated that the League can and does transact an immense amount of most useful minor Lui-mtss, but that only when it included Germany, the United States and Russia could it engage in world-wide 'projects. ' France is naturally displeased vilh Mr Chamberlain’s declaration, which, according to the Paris corespondent of the Times, is regarded as revealing a British preference for an international pact with Germany. This is distasteful to the League. “Supplementing ihe covena: t by making special arrangements to deal with sM-cial needs,” he adds, “certainly olfers a bioad basis for discussion.” “THE WHOLE TROUBLE” “Admirable,” is how the Times, in a leadinrg article, describes Mr Chamberlain’s speech. “It shows,” Ihe arlu.'e adds, “that the British rejection of tho protocol is dt(rite and final. As far as the Empire is concerned, it is dead and jsmncd. ’I here lore, it is anomalous for France still to seek to stand thereby. We, too, want peace, but wo also want to remove the obstacles which are preventing peace. “The whole trouble in Europe is duo to the unending Franco-German cccflii-t. Let France and Germany make an aiiar.gei* < rt such as Mr Chamberlain suggests, and Britain will gladly cm in ’ The paper expresses the view that the German pact proposals constitute an event in the history of Europe, and that Franco-British diplomacy should grasp the occasion with both hands. Tho Times rdds: “Mr Chamberlain succinctly expressed tho* objections the Empire instinctively felt when the protocol was introduced. Without iiiie Empire’s co-operation the protocol cannot have validity. Gonseque’itly. France’s reaffirmation is unintelligible. France should recognise that the Get man o:Vei cf a pact presents an opnovtumty cl e.n jinating the German menace to which Britain v cuid gladly subscribe.