PACT TO OUTLAW WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19910, 31 March 1928, Page 11

PACT TO OUTLAW WAR.

FRANCE AND AMERICA. M. BRIAND'S CONDITIONS. GERMANY WOULD NEGOTIATE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 30. 9.45 p.m.) A. mid N.Z. LONDON. March 30. A message from Paris says the French Cabinet has approved the text of the reply sent by tlio Foreign Minister, M. Briand, to Mr. F. I>. Kellogg, United States Secretary of State, concerning the proposed pact to outlaw war. The diplomatic corrcsponenfc of the Daily Telegraph says there is reason to believe the French reply is in tho nature of an acceptance of tlie proposed treaty, subject to the following conditions: — (1) That all the Powers, great and small, shall be permitted to become partics to it. (2) That a violation of the pledge of mutual non-aggression by any Power will automatically release all the other signatories from (ho pledge.

Mr. Kellogg has already accepted the first condition, but it is improbable that, ho will accept tho second. The correspondent expresses the opinion that Mr. lveilogg is not likely to demur to the proposition that signatories attacked should be automatically freed from their pledge to resort to war, but this is a totally different. thing from the French contention, expressed or implied, that in tho event of an armed conflict between two of the signatories tho remainder should be at unrestricted liberty to rush in and light. A despatch from Berlin says it is authoritatively stated that Germany will gladly entei' into negotiations for a treaty to outlaw war on the invitation of tho Governments of tho United States and France.