LOCARNO AND PARIS PACTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 29 May 1930, Page 8

LOCARNO AND PARIS PACTS

) OBLIGATIONS DISCUSSED Britain's obligations under the Locarno Treaty and the Brjand-Kellcfgg Tact were djscussod by Mr J. L. Gar r vin in the "Observer' vecontlyV His | interpretation of*.the -Fact, _ wliioli litis been signed by 60 nations, is that Britain is not committed to go to war in any contingency whatever against her own free judgment at the time. "Oil the contrary, we are prohibited from jgoing to war except "in. plain self-de-Ifence. We are committed tb nothing' but to peace itself. Identical with this 'view is that of every British .Dominion." By Article 111. of the Locarno Treaty "Germany and Belgium, a*icl Germany and .France, undertake to settle by poacoful means and in the manner 'laid down herein, all questions of every kind which may arise between them.',' Mr Garvin says that if any of them prove false to this engagement, .and doubly false under the Kellogg Pact, the 'first duty of a British Government would be to remind them of both. "There arc two safeguards' against the precipitate action- of the 'guaranteeing Powers,' Britain and Italy, under the Locarno agreement. First, the Council of, the League must give a verdict unanimously—votes of , appellants excluded-—agairist the- ag--1 gressor or. aggressors. Secondly, any guaranteeing Power like Britain or Italv must have been 'able to satisfy ■ itself that 'an unprovoked act of aggression! has occurred, j As far, |bs this I country is concerned, the main safeI guard is preserved. Read, with the jKellogg Pact, the Locarno conditions 'mean that it is impossible for this country to be dragged into war without the j consent of Parliament. . . . Especially are we bound to consult with America, as well, as with the Dominions; and then to submit the issue "to the House of Commons, before giving our vote in; the Council of the League for 'authorised war.' Such are our present safeguards against 'automatic entanglement'; under the Locarno Treaty and the Kellogg Pact together." ,