KELLOGG PACT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 208, 1 August 1928, Page 7

KELLOGG PACT

INVITATION TO SIGN.

OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION. FOREIGN SECRETARY’S HOPE. I (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received August 1, 11.5 a.m. RUGBY, July 31. The British Government has now received an official invitation from tho French Government ix> sign the Kellogg Peace Treaty in Paris on August 27rh. Similar invitations are being transmitted to the Dominions Governments. Sir Austen Chamberlain yesterday in tho House of Commons expressed the hope that it might be his good fortune to go to Pans to sign the treaty, on behalf of this country. Whom the Dominions Governments will designate to sign the treaty will be known when they reply to the invitation.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS

LIBERAL AND LABOUR CRITICISM.

(Australian Press Association —United Service.) LONDON, July 30. The Committee of Supply in the House of Commons dealt with the Foreign Office Vote. Major H. E. Crawford, Liberal m amber for Walthamstow W., pointed out with regard to the Kellogg Pact that Sir Austen Chamberlain in a letter on May 19 had practically reproduced all tho reservations made by the French Government, with one or two of liis own.

It was mainly upon these reservations that the Opposition's criticism of the Foreign Office was based. .The correspondence also showed that Sir Austen Chamberlain thought it would be convenient if Russia were included in the Pact. Did the Foreign Minister really think the Pact of maximum use, if Russia were excluded? If all the difficulties confronting Europe, along the Russian and German borders were excluded, then the Pact would be more useless than many hoped and believed. Hon. C. P. Trevelyan, Labour member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, Central, said that the Labour Party regretted that the Pact had not been accepted by the British Government without reservations. “We don’t want another Monroe Doctrine with a roving application all over the world,” he said. This really meant that Great Britain and the British Empire held themselves free in certain district®' of the world, despite the Pact, to use force to make war and act as absolute arbiters. That would be inconsistent with the international idea. _ Commander J. M. Ivenworthy, Labour member for Central Hull, urged that it must be international law and peace instead of international war. He hoped Britain would take the first step. “VAGUE, OBSCURE CLAUSE.” Regarding the Pact, Mr Lloyd George thought Sir Austen Chamberlain was disposed to underestimate tlie perils of the clause which set up a kind of Monroe Doctrine for ourselves. There was a great deal of misapprehension over the clause on the other side of the Atlantic. Mr Lloyd George asked for a clear statement of what the Government intended to cover by this vague, indefinite and obscure clause. He regretted that tho words “regarding self-defence” had been included, as there had never been a war when both parties did not claim to be acting on the principle of self-defence. It was- a pitv that Mr Kellogg was forced out of his first position of having a simple, unreserved declaration to outlaw war. It was also vital to bring Russia within the ambit of some obligation not to make war. There would never be disarmament until that was done. In conclusion Mr Lloyd George hoped that the Government would give reality to the Pact by taking the initiative in cutting down armaments and land. The vote was agreed to.