PEACE TREATY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 5, 4 December 1928, Page 7

PEACE TREATY

TERMS OF ARTICLE. GERMANY’S OBLIGATIONS. / STATEMENT BY FOREIGN SECRETARY. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received December 4, 11.5 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 3. In the House of Commons to-day, the Foreign Secretary, Sir Austen Chamberlain, was asked whether the German Government had carried out the terms of Article 431 of the Peace Treaty and, if not, whether the particulars in which Germany had not complied could bo stated. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied:— “There are two aspects of this question. This particular enquiry relates to the interpretation of the treaty and is a question of law. There is also the question of policy. “On the question of law His Majesty's Government are advised that there is no legal justification for the contention that Germany lias complied with all the obligations imposed upon lior by the treaty so as to entitle her, under Article 431, or otherwise, to demand the withdrawal of the forces at present occupying the Rhineland before the expiry of the period laid down in the treaty. “The chief obligation with which Germany has not yet complied is that of reparations. In the opinion of the British Government, the concession provided for in Article 431 could only take effect when Germany has completed, executed and discharged the whole of her reparation obligations. It is not sufficient that she should be carrying out regularly her undertaking in the matter of current reparation payments. The phrase applicable to the punctual performance of current obligations is that used at the beginning of the article providing for quinquennial reductions in the area under occupation. This phrase is: ‘lf the conditions of the present treaty are faithfully observed.’

“As to the Government’s policy, which is equally important, though decided by different considerations, I repeat that His Majesty’s Government would welcome the early evacuation of the Rhineland by the French, British and Belgian forces, irrespective of the legal right of ex-Alhed Governments to continue their occupation until the expiry of the period fixed by the treaty.”