WAR OUTLAWRY TREATY ACCEPTABLE TO EMPIRE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6667, 21 July 1928, Page 7

WAR OUTLAWRY TREATY ACCEPTABLE TO EMPIRE

Britain and Dominions Inform America Glad to Sign Kellogg Pact ' .United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. ; V . , WASHINGTON, July 19. The State Department has released the text of Great Britain’s acceptance of the multilateral treaty in which the Empire has retained freedom of action relative to “certain regions the welfare and integrity of which constitute vital interests for our peace and safety.” This is locally regarded as a reference to the Suez Canal, Egypt, and India, and an acceptable definition of self-defence. 1 Sir Austen Chamberlain, the British Foreign Secretary, declared:— “Great Britain accepts the treaty in the form proposed and will be glad to sign it at. such time and place as is indicated hy the United States. “While the Empire is unable to sign any treaty undermining the League of Nations and Locarno Treaty, it is evident the United States treaty offers no possible conflict, : ;; r . “I am in Record with the view that the proposed treaty will neither restrict nor impair the right of self-defence; likewise that each State alone is competent to decide when circumstances necessitate recourse to war,” The texts bf Replies from Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and India are substantially the same.

Texts of New Zealand’s And Gr. Britain’s Replies Per Press Association. v . WELLINGTON, July 20. ‘ The Prime Minister to-day released for . publication the „ following documents with reference to the proposed mutlilateral pact .f or thftvjenuhftiation of war.- % , Vp:'%rNew Zealand’s Eeply v From Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, London,- to United States Charge d ’Affaires, London, dated 18th July, 1923; ' . , '“Sir; In the note which you were so good as to address to me on 23rd June last you stated that the Government of the United States would be glad to be informed whether His Majesty V Government in New Zealand were willing to join with the United States and . Mother ; similarly! disposed Governments 'in signing a ’"definite treaty for the : renunciation of war in the form of the draft treaty enclosed in your note. ; ; ■ “I now beg leave to you that His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand, desire to associate themselves with the terms of the note which I have had the honour'to address to you to-day, notifying • you of the willingness of His Majesty’s Government in Groat Britain to - sign a multilateral treaty fqr the renunciation of war as proposed by. the 1 Government of the United States. ' ■ V

“His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand desire me to add that they will have the utmost satisfaction, in cooperation with His Majesty’s Governments in.' other parts bf tho British Empire, in joining, with .the Government of the United,States and with all the other Governments similarly disposed in signing a treaty in the form proposed.—Signed Austen Chamber* lain.” .'.i* ... ’ Great Britain’s Reply. From, the Secretary of State -for Foreign Affairs* to the United States Charge d’Affaires London, dated 18th .July, 1928: * “Sir: I am happy to’ bo able to inform, you that, after careful, study of the note which you left with me.bn 23rd June, transmitting the revised text of the draft’of the, proposed treaty for . the. renunciation of : war/ His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain accept the proposed treaty in the form transmitted by you, and will be glad to sign it at such time and place as nny be indicated for the purpose by tho Government of the United States., My .Government have 'read, with interest the explanation contained in your note as to’the meaning of the draft treaty and also the comments which it contains npon tho consideration advanced by other powers in previous diplomatic correspondence, ’ Release Prom Ohi-jatlpns. “You will remember that in my previous communication of 19th May I explained how important it was to my Government that the. principle should bo recognised that if one of the parties to this proposed treaty resorts to war in violation of its terms,- the other parties should bo released automatically from their obligations towards that party under the treaty, “I also pointed’out that respect for the obligations arising out of tho Covenant of the League of Nations and of the Locarno treaties was the foundation of the policy of the Government of this country, and that they could not agree to any new treaty which would weaken or undermine these engagements. “Tho stipulation now inserted in the preamble under which any signatory power which hereafter seeks to promote is national interests by resorting to war against another signatory is to be denied tho benefits furnished by the treaty is satisfactory to my Government, and is sufficient to meet the first point mentioned in the preceding paragraph. League Not Undermined.

Britain and America Alone Unquestionably Cab Stop War Received Friday, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, July 19. “Obviously if great nations insist on going to war neither treaties nor pacts will prevent them. But if two of the greatest Powers in the world, Britain and America, agreed to stop war and refused credits and supplies there is absolutely not question they could stop war.” So declared Sir Esme Howard, British Ambassador to the- United States, in a speech to tho British Legion mooting. “Can anyone dispute that if these two Powers agreed they could practically outlaw war? I hope they will.” A message from London, Ontario, states that an appeal to world Masonry to take a united stand against war was featured in an address by Mr. John Martin, Grand Master of the Grand Masonic Lodge, Canada, at the opening of the seventy-third annual conclave.

Mr, Martin stated that there was no more daring or more hopeful movement in the world than the movement to abolish war.

"His Majesty's Government in Great Britain do not consider, after mature reflection, that the fulfilment of the obligations which they have undertaken in the Covenant of the League of Nations and in the Treaty of Locarno are precluded by the acceptance of the proposed treaty. They concur in the view enunciated by the German Government in their note of 27th April that

these obligations do not contain anything which could conflict with the treaty proposed by the United States Government. “My Government have noted with peculiar satisfaction that all parties to the Locarno treaty are now invited to become original signatories of the new treaty,.and 4hat it is clearly the wish of the United States Government that all members of tho League should , become parties, either by signature orjpccessipn. In order that’ as many States as possible may participate in the new movement. .1 trust that a. general invitation will .be extended to them also. “As regards the passage in my note of 19th May relative to certain regions of which the welfare and t integrity constitute a special and vital interest for our peace and safety, I need only repeat that His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain accept the new treaty upon the understanding that it does not prejudice their freedom of action in this respect. - : “I am entirely in agreement With the views expressed by Mr. Kellogg in his speech of 28th Aprilthat the proposed treaty does not restrict or impair in. any way the right of self-de-fence, as also with his opinion that each State alone is competent to decide when circumstances necessitate recourse to war for that purpose. “In the light of the foregoing- ox- ; planation His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain are glad to. join with the United ,States and with, all other Governments similarly disposed in feigning in the form transmitted in your note' of 23rd June' a definite treaty for the renunciation of war. " They rejoice to be associated With the Government of the United Stat.es and other parties in the proposed .treaty in a further and signal advance in the outlawry of war.” , ■'

New Zealand and India’s Replies Same as Britain’s

United Press Association—By, Eleotria Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. . , LONDON, July 20. Newspapers commend Sir Austen Chamberlain’s Reply, >■ The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent notes that New Zealand and India are content to associate themselves with the Note of the London Government, while the Australian and South African Governments base their acceptance on the independent consideration of their own obligations which arc more restricted than Britain’s.