TO END WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 148, 23 May 1928, Page 7

TO END WAR

PROPOSED PACT.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE,

KEENEST SATISFACTION IN

AMERICA,

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, Miiy 21.

Tho State Department has issued tile following statement: “In the British Note Sir Austen Chamberlain informs this Government that His Majesty’s Government have been in communication with tho Dominions and India and have ascertained that they are all in cordial agreement on the general principle of a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. Sir Austen added that he felt confident that the Dominions arid the Government of India were prepared to accept the invitation to participate in the conclusion of such a treaty. The United States received this information with the keenest satisfaction. Telegraphic instruction was to-day sent to the American Ministers at Ottawa and Dublin and the American Ambassador at London to deliver to-morrow Notes inviting the Dominion Governments and the Government of India to become original parties to a multilateral treaty for the renunciation of war. The United States Government lias proposed tlic simultaneous publication of tho text of the inviations next Friday morning.”

All the invitations, it is understood, will be identical and will contain in accordance witli Sir Austen Chamberlain’s recommendations. OPTIMISM INCREASED.

Further study of the British Note today by the State Department hag confirmed he first impressions and led to an optimism that was increased by the Paris Press report that the French Government will bo substantially, if not completely, in accord with Sir Austen Chamberlain’s views. There is, however, no diminution in tho American opposition to the fourth article of the j: rench draft treaty specifying that the contemplated convention shall not abridge the structure of all existing treaties. The hope here is that the British Note will stand eventually as the unqualified acceptance of the Kellogg draft. Article 10 of the Chamberlain Note, it is now felt, may be found to be only a specific declaration of Britain’s intention to defend all its lines of coinmuneiatirin, in which case it would amount merely to a definition of selfdefence rather than a reservation. It ia pointed out that Mr Kellogg has already declared that tho right of selfdefence was inherent in any treaty. Officials to-day opposed the suggestions that an international conference might be tlie best means of adjusting all differences. They felt that the exchange of diplomatic communications constituted in themselves complete definitions of understanding, upon which the Powers are acting. It was admitted, however, that if these same understandings were contained briefly and comprehensively, possibly in the preamble of the treaty, they would through the Senate and Parliamentary ratification take on a force not contained in their present form. CANADA OFFIALLY INVITED. (Australian Press Association.) Received Mav 23, 8,40 a.in. OTTAWA, May 22. Canada has been officially invited to take part in the Kellogg treaty. DISARMAMENT. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. (Australian Press Association —United Service.) LONDON, May 22. Acknowledging a petition containing 100,000 signatures asking acceptance of the 1919 standard of disarmament as tlie basis of general disarmament, the Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin, wrote to the National Council for the Prevention of Wpr stating that tlie maintenance of peace and the prevention of war inspired the whole foreign policy of the Government.

He hoped to still further reduce armaments through common action and agreement with other nations. If Britain alone proceeded further to disarm, there was no guarantee that others would follow her example, and no British Government would dare run this risk. It would make Britain a prey to hostile forces, excite cupidity and hostile intention, and encourage, instead of prevent, war. Further steps in the direction of disarmament must ho the result of combined action of all countries. The Government would co-operate in a work of this, nature, but it was iinnossible to pledge in advance that any given standard of disarmament would be adopted.