RENUNCIATION OF WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 31

RENUNCIATION OF WAR

THE AMERICAN PROPOSALS. FAVOURABLE GERMAN REPLY. WASHINGTON, April 30. The State Department has published the German reply to Mr Kellogg’s outlawry of war treaty, with every' indication of official satisfaction in the contents. Germany declares she is ready to conclude a pact in accordance with the American proposals and welcomes most .warmly the opening of negotiations for the outlawry of war. The Note states that Germany is convinced that her obligations under the League and the Locarno Pact do not conflict with the obligations proposed in the American treaty, but would rather strengthen the former. She further intimates that she sees no necessity for the proposed French reservations. The Note points out that the dominating ideas of M. Briand’s and Mr Kellogg’s proposals tally with the German policy, which has no higher interest than that of abolishing the possibility of war and ensuring the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr Kellogg’s proposals nearly attain the goal. The reply adds that Germany has not entered into international obligations, similar to the proposed pact, except the League covenant and the Locarno Pact, which do not conflict with the American proposals. On the contrary, a binding obligation not to mak-e war would strengthen both the covenant and the Locarno Pact. Nevertheless, the proposals do not interfere with the siveregin States’ rights of self-defence, because if the Pact were violated the other contracting parties would regain freedom of action. The Note emphasises the necessity of acceptance of the Pact, which it hopes will give an effective impulse to general disarmament. ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. RUGBY, April 30. Sir Austen Chamberlain made a statement in reply to Mr Ramsay MacDonald regarding the United States proposals for a treaty to outlaw war. The Foreign Secretary said his Majesty’s Government warmly welcomed the proposal of the United States Government that a further joint effort should be made to safeguard the peace of the world. They had been giving close and sympathetic attention to the text of the treaty proposed by Mr Kellogg, and to observations and suggestions regarding it offered by the French Government. His Majesty’s Government did not doubt that this Franco-American initiative could be brought to a successful issue, but time was obviously needed for the examination of the various issues raised and of the important declarations and explanations given by the United States Secretary of State, of which the last was only reported in this morning’s papers, as well as for consultation with the dominions and with the” United States and other Governments concerned. He could not, therefore, at present indicate the date when a discussion could usefully be held in the House, but in a week or 10 days he would be able to make a more specific statement as regards discussion. He hoped, however, that what he said would be sufficient for the moment in regard to the attitude of his Majesty’s Government. BRITAIN’S REPLY ACCELERATED. LONDON, May 3. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph believes that Britain’s reply to Mr Kellogg will be accelerated, the consultations with the dominions proving less difficult and protracted than was originally anticipated. This was due to their freedom from military commitments. They have only their obligations under the League Covenant to consider, which they, in common with most British jurists, never read as imposing military action on League members, SEQUEL TO PROPOSALS. LONDON, May 4. The immediate sequel to Mr Kellogg’s proposals for the banishment of war will probably be an international conference of jurists, not only to examine the American and French drafts, but various other schemes advanced for the same end, and also the international commitments of the Powers. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph understands that the British Government has proposed this course to the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan, and that a similar, but not identical, proposal has been made by France. The correspondent indicates that Italy's preliminary reply to Mr Kellogg will prove somewhat of a surprise, inasmuch as it is exceedingly sympathetic and not unduly qualified by reservations.