PRESERVATION OF PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 11

PRESERVATION OF PEACE.

efforts by league. COUNCIL MEETING TO-BAY. DISARMAMENT question. pHTUDE OF GERMANY. lORD CECIL HOPEFUL. J3~ Telegraph—Press Association—Conyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) • A . and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 5. A message from Paris says the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, gjr Austen Chamberlain, whilo he was in Paris yesterday had luncheon with the French Premier, M. Poincare, the Foreign Minister, M. Briand, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, M. Herriot, They subsequently conferred regarding the agenda for the meeting of t he Council of the League of Nations ■ivhich is to commence to-morrow at Geneva. The statesmen discussed their policy with special reference to the questions •which will he discussed at Geneva. • Speculation is rife concerning these conversations, especially in Germany, where the dominant question is the withdrawal of military control from the occupied prea3. The German newspapers are highly suspicious. They deprecate any agreement being made between Britain and France before the meeting of the Council. They especially fear a postponement of the disarmament question until the March session. Th» prospecti of a meeting between the representatives of Britain, France, Italy and Germany is considered to be more remote. It is understood that Signor Mussolini is at present of opinion that it would be premature owing to insufficient preparation. Viscount Cecil states that he is well (satisfied with the result of the deliberations of the Disarmament Sub-committee. These, he says, will possibly prove to he the turning point in the history of the League. The attention of the League is now being turned to the prevention of war instead of to the provision of punishment for on aggressor. "Under the projects which we have ordered to be prepared," says Lord Cecil, ."the League would he convoked immediately there was a threat of war. It would remain in constant session and would Utilise every- means to prevent war. Had it been possible in August, 1914, to summon such a council, it is almost certain the Great "War would have been presented. "We have also recommended measures to enable the Council to use all the weapons and all the influence of the League on behalf of an attacked nation in the event of a war being actually commenced." •