FOUR-POWER PACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 9

FOUR-POWER PACT

AGREEMENT REPORTED FRANCO-BRITISH ACCORD HOPE OF 10 YEARS' PEACE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 20, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, May 28 The Sunday Times says Britain and Franco have reached a complete agreement in connection with the proposed, Four-Power Pact. France now is communicating the terms to Poland and the Little Entente, whose acquiescence is expected. The paper says there is every probability of the pact, which will guarantee European peaco for 10 years, being signed this week.

EUROPE'S FUTURE AMERICAN CO-OPERATION NEW POLICY ANNOUNCED British Wireless RUGBY. May 2fi The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, during a foreign affairs debate in the House of Commons, made an important statement. He said the recent peace declaration by the President of the United States, Mr. Roosevelt, constituted a fundamental change from America's former position with regard to neutrality.

Tho fundamental principle of her doctrine before 1914 was the obligation on neutral States to show complete impartiality as between contesting Powers. At Geneva, Mr. Norman Davis had indicated that so far as America was concerned, tho law of neutrality was being modified, and the United States was ready to contribute in other ways toward tho organisation of peace. She was willing to consult with the other States in the event of a threat to peace, with a view to action. It was of first importance that the declaration should not be exaggerated or distorted by one hair's breadth. '1 ho United States had insisted that she must preserve her own independent judgment in connection with any dispute, and there was no ground to complain about that. America's Future Attitude If, in some future conflict, however, tho nations in consultation decided to take, action to prevent sustenance or succour going to a wrongdoer, Mr. Davis' declaration meant that the United States, if she agreed with the view of tho consulting States, would refrain from any step that would tend to defeat that action.

. In other words, the old idea of standing with folded arms between an aggressor nation and an oppressed nation had gone. It was impossible to exaggerate the importance of that. Sir John explained that in view of the declaration alterations in the security section of tho draft convention had become necessary, and lie had prepared a new draft providing that in the event of a breach, or threatened breach, an invitation for an immediate consultation might be made by the League of Nations. There was reason to believe that the United States would be prepared to enter into such a consultation. He was happy to find that the United States proposed to associate herself with this part of the treaty by unilateral declaration, there being constitutional difficulties in the way of her doing so in any other way. Change in German Policy Mr. George Lansbury, Leader of tho Opposition, said he questioned the efficiency of new conventions when, as in the case of Japan, the old ones were not being observed. Sir Austen Chamberlain, formerly Foreign Secretary, said he regarded Sir John Simon's speech as tho most encouraging that it had been in the power of any Foreign Secretary to make for many years. Ho was not satisfied that it was practicable or desirable to design a formula to bo applied in finding the aggressor in case of a broach of peace. It would not be difficult to recognise an act of aggression, though it might bo impossible to define the aggressor.

Sir Austen said he welcomed Herr Hitler's speech, which, if taken on its face value (as he would like to take it), was a happy omen for hopeful relations between Germany and the rest of the world. However, ho expressed surprise that there had been no direct repudiation of statements made by some of the Chancellor's colleagues. He hoped he could take the speech as a silent repudiation of Herr Nadolny's rearmament threat and the terrible speech of Herr von Papen shortly before.

WORK AT GENEVA SIR JOHN SIMON'S VIEW REAL PROGRESS MADE British Wireless RUGBY, May 27 Poccnt developments at the Disarmament Conference were examined by the Cabinet yesterday: Tho Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, claimed that real progress had been 1 made at Geneva, but admitted that thero were extremely disturbing storm signals about. Ho welcomed the statesmanlike and moderato tone of Herr Hitler's declaration in the Reichstag a few days ago and tho withdrawal of tho German amendments. A good spirit was being displayed in the determination to discuss tho British plan, article by article. NAVAL LIMITATIONS DEBATE ON CONVENTION GENEVA, May 20 After a lengthy debate on naval armaments the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference adopted a motion for tho first reading of part 2 of the draft convention. The authors of tlio 14 amendments agreed to withdraw them pending private negotiations with the British representatives, although they reserved the right to reintroduce them at tho second reading.