SECURITY OF EUROPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 9

SECURITY OF EUROPE.

■ rumours oe a pact. GERMANY'S PARTICIPATION MB, CHAMBERLAIN'S MOVE. PROTECTION FOR FRANCE. CRITICISM OF POLICY. J3v Association—Copyright (Received 5.5 p.m.) and N.Z. LONDON. Feb. 12. The Morning Post, in a leading article, discusses the persistent rumours v.hich are in circulation in London, Paris and Berlin to the effect, that Germany is willing to participate, in a K-hemo for tho security of Europe. The paper says: "'Before Franco and Britain can meet Germany they must be pureed, concerning their aims. Moreover, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Austen ChamberJain, must know what tho attitude of tho Dominions is' to be toward the European problem as a whole. "After that, there roust be, firstly, hn assurance that Hcrr Luther's Government is able to carry out a policy which is bound to meet, with opposition from the parties of the extreme Right and left. '•Secondly, tho duration of any scheme must be for a considerable period of years." The 'Daily Express discusses the same subject from a Afferent angle. It says Mr. Chamberlain is proposing, apparently without much active resistance from other members of the Government, to negotiate some kind of » military part with Franco in order to ensure the defenco of the French frontier against Germany. "Mr. Chamberlain," continues the Impress, "is approaching the military and the naval authorities with a view to gaining their support for this policy. Ho is advancing the argument that the defence of the Channel port* is a matter of national interest." Tho paper expresses the opinion that British views aro opposed to such a compact, and that tho outer Dominions will disapprove in the strongest manner of the military commitments in which Mr. Chamberlain is seeking to entangle Britain.