FLUTTER IN DOVECOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3282, 27 February 1926, Page 9

FLUTTER IN DOVECOTES

CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH UPSETS BERLIN PRESS “Nothing Short of Consternation” GERMANY’S APPLICATION MAY Efe WITHDRAWN “Nothing short ol consternation” describes the Berlin press reception of Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speech. Deducing the cer- \ tainty that Britain will support \ the French argument at Geneva, ' Stresemann’s mouthpiece says that, if they persist in their intention of extending the Council, they will have to dispense with Germany’s participation. [By Electric Cable-Copyright] [Auat and N.Z. Cable Association,] v BERLIN. Feb. 24. “Nothing short of consternation" describes the Berlin Press reception Of Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech. The papers deduce the certainty that Britain will support the French argument at Geneva, and they emphatically assert that if Dr. Luther and Herr Stresemann are confronted with a fait accompli in the form of an extended Council, Germany/will unhesitatingly withdraw her application for admittance to the League. The “Tagllsche Rudschau,” which is generally Herr Streaemann’s mouthpiece, says that France and Britain can do as they like, but if they\ persist in their intention of extending the Council, they will have to dispense with Germany’s participation. GOVERNMENT KEEPING COOL. GERMANY ALONE WILL BE GIVEN SEAT. BERLIN, Feb. 24. German Government circles betray no perturbation, and are credited with being confident that everything will proceed smoothly, and that Germany alone will be given a seat on the Council and further reconstruction will not bo settled before the September session, when Germany will bo ready to discuss the question in a spirit of conciliation. \

CONFUSING THE ISSUES. J 0... ' “ ( CABINET SHOULD DECIDE BEFORE GENEVA* >-‘ LONDON, Feb. 25. It Is generally considered tju-t the League situation has been confused instead of being cleared by Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speech. Political critics affirm that, whatever, may he the case for the reconstitution of the Council, this is- an unfortunate time to raise the question. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, In an interview in the "Daily Herald,” Insist that the question should be entirely separated from that of Germany’s admission, and suggests that after that has been dealt with, the Council might invite a committee of outside international representatives to report. It is understood that the Cabinet considered the matter' yesterday, but no decision has been made known. A body Of Ministers la of opinion that other applications should be subsequent to Germany’s entry. The "Daily Chronicle" says it Is believed that the standpoint of the Dominions is that the Cabinet’s decision should come before Sir Austen Chamberlain goes to Geneva. CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH. READ BY PARMOOR WITH APPREHENSION, LONDON, Feb. 24. In the House of Lords, a motion by Lord Parmoor, "that on the occasion of the admission of Germapy to the League Council, it is undesirable to raise the question of the general reconstruction of the Council or of a further increase of members," furnished an occasion for plain speaking on the League Issue. Lord Parmoor reiterated the danger of creating an impression that the reconstitution of the Council was dictated by the necessity of grouping the Powers and balancing rival interests. He declared that he had read Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speech yesterday with apprehension. He was of opinion that it was unfair to the other members of the League to raise a matter of such Importance at present, and the question should be first raised in the Assembly of the League for public and open discussion. Cockpit of Rival Interest, Lord Phlllmore, strongly opposing an Increase In the membership, said the Council must not become the cockpit Of rival interests. He said he had been much struck by an article In a South African newspaper saying that if It became a cockpit the oply thing to do was to keep out of it altogether. Tying Britain’s Hands at Geneva. Lord Cecil, in reply, said he had no desire to say much at the present stage; but it was a mistake to think that the admission of Germany raised this question. It was much truer to say that the question was postponed, because It felt that ..when Germany entered, that would be the proper time to deal with the question, which had , constantly raised 'earlier. ’The Government did not dasire to

deprive Parliament of Its right to to express its views. Moreover, the British delegates ought to go to Geneva with instructions: nevertheless, they should be given a certain liberty of action to debate the matter honestly and fairly with, other States. The, said question had not been raised by the British Government; but if it was raised at all it would be raised by others, and Britain could not tell co-memhers that they had no right to raise a question which they were perfectly justified in raising. Balancing of Interests Disastrous. Lord Cecil said he agreed that the balancing of rival .interests would be disastrous to the Council. He assured the House that no action by the, British Government would be dictated by distrust or suspicion of any nation. He deprecated the kind of language used in some countries regarding what would happen if this or that was not done, and said that was no way to approach League problems. He appealed to the House not to tie the Government’s hands. Lord Parmoor withdrew his motion.

the worm turns. (Received Friday, 7.10 p.m.) BOMB, February 25, Syrian representatives have communicated to the mandate's’ commission suiting here, a telegram from Cairo slating that Armenian mercenaries massacred 600 Musulmana in Meidan quarter of Damascus, and burned 200 houses and shops. NEW ZEALAND CAUSES RIFT IN LUTE. DOWNING STREET PACIFIES (Received Friday, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON. February 25. A story circulating In Dominion circles that a delicate position recently arose through New Zealand’s reported intention of introducing a Bill to ratify the Locarno Pact, is stated to be the echo of a story from the Dominion Office that reached Canada, on whose urgent advice representations were made that New Zealand’s action would! embarrass the other Dominions. Finally, a threat was made that Canada would retaliate by bringing down a Bill against the Pact, but in response to Downing Street influences, stayed its hand. A cable to-night from Canada announces the# the anti-Locarno idea lias been abandoned. It is thought the threatened conflict will be overcome by an assurance that the whole question of the Empire’s foreign policy, including the Pact, will be discussed at the Imperial conference.