“DARE NOT LEAVE EUROPE.”

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2709, 17 June 1925, Page 9

“DARE NOT LEAVE EUROPE.”

OLD DIPLOMACY DYING HARD ' Does New Zealand Favour Pact? AT MERCY OF UNKNOWN FORCES. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday 7 p.m) LONDON, June 15. The “Morning- Post,’ in discussing the attitude of the Dominions towards the Pact, says: “An endeavour is being made to create the impression that they oppose the Pact, We understand that both Australia and NeV Zealand are favourable and despite .Mr Mackenzie King’s blunt reference, there is willingness among Canadians to give the arrangement fair consideration. The same waiting attitude is observable in South Africa. The Dominions very properly are not going to be precipitate in their judgment at an early stage of the negotiations, but it would be puerile for responsible Dominion statesmen to condemn the Pact before they read the clauses. Wo quite understand the suspicions the Dominions entertain of European entanglements, and Britain’s share in their prepossessions, but we cannot get away from the Continent —we dare not leave Europe to take care of Itself. We hope the Dominions will understand this argument and ask themselves whether the proposed Pact will help to secure the British Empire, ns we think it will.

“The second question: ‘Docs the Pact make for peace?’ We again answer in the affirmative, as it establishes a status quo. The Pact is a constructive measure for giving support to the settlement of 1919, for which the Dominions’ soldiers gave their lives. If the Dominions throw over the Pact, we shall again bo at the mercy of unknown forces, which may leap from the dark and threaten not only British shores, but the links which bind us to our kinsmen overseas.” COMMONS TO DEBATE ON JUNE 24th. (Received Tuesday 8.5 p.m) LONDON, June 16. The House of Commons will bevote a day, probably June 24th, to a debate on the security Pact, Six Liberals have tabled motions expressing apprehension at Britain entering any exclusive Pact with foreign nations, which might draw her into war..