League Hears Case For Locarno

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 63, 16 March 1936, Page 7

League Hears Case For Locarno

France and Belgium Demand Justice GRAVE ISSUES AT STAKE Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. LU.N.UO.N, March 11. The Associated Press special correspondent at St. James' ralaee stales that the members of the League Council who on January 21 agreed to hoid the next meeting away from Ueueva only if the iuteruationai situation were calmer, found themselves 10-day assembling through tho sudden change of direction' of tho crisis in Anne’s stately crimson and gilt drawing-room at St. James' Palace.

it Avas the first League meeting in London since 11)22. Lvents had developed so rapidly since January that tho pressing invitations of M. Titulescu and Senor Yascouccllos to meet at Bucharest and Lisbon respectively avcio forgotten in the general agreement that Loudon Avas the most desirable venue for tho present session. There Avere many evidences of haste in tho preparations which were so inadequate to accommodate the 200 representatives of the world’s Press that few of them gained places in the actual meeting room. The guardroom of the palace Avhere Charles I spent the last night before his execution was hastily converted into a headquarters for tiie cablo companies. Tho makeshift character of the arrangements was evidenced by the inexperience of the temporary officials, one of Avhom sought M. Flandin’s credentials as ho arrived at the door.

The heavily-framed portraits of British monarchs looked down upon the cosmopolitan assemblage as after half-nn-liour's private meeting Mr. Stanley Bruce, Australian High Commissioner and chairman of the League Council, together with the other delegates filed into Queen Anne's drawing-room and took their scats at the oval table beneath the magnificent antique chandeliers.-

Mr. Bruce began tho proceedings by thanking the King for placing the palace at the League’s disposal, especially as it involved the transfer of the levee on March IS' to Buckingham Palaco instead of by tho old tradition at St. James’.

The journalists crowding round the doors to get a glimpse of the opening ceremony accidentally set tho firo extinguisher in motion. Tho speeches Avere amplified to the adjoining rooms. Britain Behind Locarno. The British Foreign Minister, Mr. Anthony Eden, said: “I will not have overmuch to say. The future depends on the wisdom of the decisions. In Britain's view it is patent and incontestable that a breach of tho Versailles and Locarno Treaties has been committed. If this conclusion is shared it would he for the Cotmcil to endeavour to find a solution of tho difficulties. Our Locarno co-signatories on the Council may count on Britain’s fullest co-operation and endeavours to establish ,peace and understanding on a firm and enduring foundation.’’ France Demands Firm Action. The French Foreign Minister, M. Flandin, said the German troops in the Rhineland Avere not symbolic, but consisted of more than 30,000 regulars not to speak of those enumerated from Berlin. France had not so much used her right a obeyed a duty. If it Avere only a matter of right the Locarno Pact authorised her to take urgently decisive measures, but she was anxious not to add any element of trouble to the European situation. Therefore France had abstained so as to give full meaning and respect to international law. Tho exchange of Notes in May and June amply refuted the German arguments concerning the Franco-Soviet Pact. Germany had not accepted France's declaration to remit the Pact to The Hague Court. She had not sought a common discussion Avith the other signatories of Locarno, but instead had voided the Treaty Avhich Herr Hitler had admitted was freely negotiated; also Article 43 of the Versailles Treaty which Article 44 qualified as a hostile act.

Tn asking that tho violation should be borne Avitness to France simply invoked the application of the law. Once the evidence had been established it. would be the business of tho guarantors to furnish France and Belgium with the assistance wdiich Locarno provided. M. Flandin. impressed on the nousignatories that it was a question not only of general peace, but of the existence of the League itself. It was a matter of knowing if a practical fait accompli and the unilateral repudiation of agreements freely and solemnly accepted were going to be put up with in Europe as a political system.

He asked the Council to bear witness to Germany’s breach, notify the signatories of Locarno and put them in a position to fulfil their obligations of assistance. It would bo for the Council to examine how it was to reinforce this action by recommendations to the members of the League. No doubt Germany’s decision had long been prepared. Germany’s arguments were nothing but a pretext chosen from others which they had considered before. France was confident cf the impartiality of the Council. Confident that the Powers wished to fulfil the duties devolving on them France was resolved to put at the disposal o the League all her material and mora forces to aid it to overcome one of tin graves crises in the history of peace and collective organisation, lie con eluded: “France had the right accord ing to the Locarno Treaty to take brutaj

and decisive measures but, rciicil entirely on the wisdom of the Council.” Belgium’s Appeal. M. Van Zeeland, Premier of Belgium, said: ‘‘Tho demilitarisation of the Rhineland is one of the essential elements to our security system because we have longest common frontier with Germany. Locarno is the very basis ol our international status and a breach of it is serious for a country relying on the structure of international law for security. Belgium had never given au excuse for a breach, particularly in this case. She had applied the Locarno Pact both in the letter and spirit with scrupulous attention. ‘‘ln our eyes these pacts were intended to protect those remaining faithful to them against those who do not. We realise that the international structure must he rebuilt, hut none can deny that a sovere blow has been struck in the eyes of the world, and perhaps those of future generations, at the moral value oi the attempt to biuld on a structure of law the weakening o: which imposes new burdens and duties on humanity. ‘•‘Belgium is obliged again to appeal to rhe League. Witn a icc... . of profound sadness and some bitterness I have the sad uufcy ol asking you in her name to consider the breach in accordance with the text of the Locarno Pact.” M, Van Zeeland also stressed that Belgium considered the Locarno Pact a pericct formula guaranteeing wurlu peace. “It was not made for our bene lit alone, but also for the advantage or Germany, 'i'kere is no reason why Germany should in any way modify ho relations with Germany.” Will G-ermany Accept Invitation? The chairman, Mr. Bruce, decrareu that unless his colleagues desired to speak immediately, this was the appropriate time 'to adjourn. lie dcclareu that tho Council would meet at d.Jh p.m. ou Monday. After the puolic meeting the Council met in private to decide whether to send a lorrnal invitation to Germany under article 17 of the Covenant. It was finally resolved to invite Germany to attend future meetings, it is be iicved the Council was assured beforehand that Germany wili accept. The public session of Lie Council lasted only -15 minutes. M. Blandin and M. Van keeiuud used temperate language, put the firmness ot their deciara tious revealed the strength of the attitude they adopted during their private talks with tho four Locarno Powers. Lmbarrassed silence met Mr. Bruce's question whether other members desired to speak. During the week-end discussions an endeavour will be made to decide the form the League’3 resolution should take, for M. I’iaudiu's and M. Van Zeeland’s declarations to-day wero statements of the case rather than direct proposals to the League,

The members of the Council lunchea with Mr. Bruce when the solemnity oi the occasion and the vastness of the issues at stake appeared to rest heavily upon the delegates. With regard to the invitation of Germany to attend the League Council it is explained that a previous approacn was made to Berlin which constituted r. “polite suggestion’’ that she shout, represent the Rhineland at the Council meeting which Germany did not choose to regard as a direct invitation, hence a formal direct invitation has now been made.