SECURITY FOR PEACE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12074, 27 February 1925, Page 7

SECURITY FOR PEACE

A MUTUAL REGIONAL PACT BRITAIN MAY FAVOUR THE INCLUSION OF ■GERMANY. FRANCE OPPOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reoeived February 26, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. Mr Austen Chamberlain (the Foreign Secretary), replying to a question in the mouse of Commons, said no undertaking had been given in connection with the security of Francli which would affect Britain’s freedom of action regarding the evacuation of Cologne. The “Daily Herald” correspondent in, Paris says a deadlock has been reached in the Anglo-French conversations with reference to the disarmament of Germany, and the evacuation of the Cologne area. The French insist upon linking up both subjects with the question of French security, and are supported in. this attitude by Marshal Foch’s pessimistic report with reference to the dangerous condition of Germany’s armaments. Some of the conclusions drawn in this report are vigorously combatted by the British military representative in Paris. In consequence of the deadlock. France welcomes the proposed Allied conference at Brussels, feeling that with Belgium’s support a subborn case can be made out against the evacuation of Cologne. SPIRIT OF THE LEAGUE.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says the idea of an An-glo-French-Belgian past without German participation finds fewer supporters in Ministerial circles than the conception of a mutual regional pact be-tween-these Powers and Germany. It is contended that the latter type of pact is more in consonance with the, spirit of the League of Nations, and would avoid splitting Europe into two rival camps, and driving Germany into the arms of Soviet Russia and any Asiatic combination. For these and other reasons it would be less likely to arouse criticism in the dominions than either the Geneva Protocol as it now stands or an alliance fashioned more or less on pre-war lines.-

ALLIES’ REPORT SECRET 'QUESTION OF PUBLICATION. A MATTER OF EXPEDIENCY. By Telegraph.—Pre«s Assn.—Copyright Reuter's Telegram. LONDON, February .25. In the House of Commons Mr Trevelyan Thomson (Lib.) asked- the reason for the delay in the publication of the report of the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission. Mr Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, replied that there had been no delay. The Inter-Allied Military Committee at Versailles reoeived the report only on February IBth. It was the duty of the committee to -consider the’report and submit its own comments on it to the Ambassadors’ Conference, which would then report to the Allied Governments.

The question of publication must be decided -by the Allies in consultation. The Allies’’ object must be to obtain fulfilment of those provisions of the Treaty of Versailles on which, by the terms of the treaty itself, the reduction of the period of occupation of the Cologne area was made to depend. Therefore, it would appear that the question of the expediency of publication would depend on whether or not publication Would facilitate the satisfaction of the Allies’ just demands and consequently the evacuation of the Cologne aTea.

INTER-ALUED BESTS PAYMENTS BASED ON ABILITY. • A BRITISH SUGGESTION. Reuter’s Telegram. LONDON, February 25. iThe -Federation of British Industries has written to Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, suggesting that the solution of the problem of inteT-Allied indebtedness must lie in some arrangement whereby the debtor countries can voluntarily pay annual instalments in accordance ivitli their ability to pay, namely, some plan based on the principles of the Dawes report.