EUROPEAN SECURITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19497, 4 June 1925, Page 8

EUROPEAN SECURITY.

When it was recognised that iho Geneva Protocnl was unacceptable the intercut of the principal European Governments became centred afresh on

the possibilities of a pact of security. The renewal in A Lurch last by the German Government of its offer of cooperation in a Western Pact of Security in somewhat precise terms afforded an opening for the inauguration of practical negotiations. The conversations that have been taking place between the British and the French Governments on the subject seem to have proceeded so harmoniously as to have resulted in a virtual agreement on important points which are being embodied in a reply to the German proposals. The questions at issue have been complicated by the circumstance that Germany’s suggestion of a pact is understood to draw a sharp distinction between her frontiers on the West, which are to be stereotyped for an in definite period, and her frontiers on the East, which she presumably hopes some day to alter. The French Government is not free from concern about these Eastern frontiers, and a differ encc cf opinion between Great Britain and France on this question has doubtless prolonged the arrival at an agreement as to the terms of their Note to Germany. The outstanding factor in the situation, however, should unquestionably be the security of Europe': Western frontiers. The Times expresses a view that appears to be thoroughly sound when it says: “We are prepared to join France, Germany, and other Powers in guaranteeing the Western frontiers. This in itself is a most important step, for* once these are really guaranteed, and confidence as regards peace is established among the chief national European forces, the rest will ho a matter of arrangement.” Great Britain has to be mindful of the interests of the dominions in the consideration of the commitments to which she may be prepared to subscribe. Mr Austen Chamberlain may bo regarded as having fixed the starting point of all British endeavours to promote peace when he said that Great Britain could have no part in an alliance specifically directed against Germany.. Such an arrangement would not ho a pact for the prevention of war, but one actuated by the purpose of winning another European war if one should come about. The Geneva Protocol would have committed its signatories to what has been described, with a good show of reason, ns an essentially military view of security. The proposed pact represents an attempt to make security a matter of agreement. The French mistrust of Germany, which President Doumerguc made no attempt to disguise in a speech at Strasbourg, will survive whatever may materialise in the way of a Western peace pact. But an agreement among the interested Powers to ratify frontiers, the justice of which should not henceforth ho challenged, should not the loss be cf substantia! value.