THE LOCARNO PACT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16870, 27 October 1925, Page 7

THE LOCARNO PACT.

GERMAN NATIONALS OBSTRUCT. THREE MINISTERS RESIGN. CABINET MAY BE RECONSTRUCTED. SOVIET AGENTS BUSY. Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn! |Auslralian and N.Z. Cable Assoc-aiion) BERLIN. Oct. 25. The resignation of three Nationalist members of Cabinet is regarded as such a slap in the face for Luther and Slro.semann that both may resign. The German National party in the Reichstag approved the decision of their representatives in Cabinet. H. Schiele, Dr. Neuhaus, and Dr. Von Schlicben, respectively Ministers for the Interior, National Economy, and Finance, tendered their resignations in consequence of the party's dissatisfaction with the Locarno decision.

It is possible the whole Cabinet will resign, but strenuous efforts are being made to avoid a complete collapse. It is suggested that either the vacancies may be filled by officials or that Cabinet may be reconstructed by shifting the basis further left and relying on the iSocialists’ friendly support. The Socialists may even be included for the sole purpose of carrying out the Locarno policy. It is believed one of these combinations will be arranged. An alternative would be dissolution. BERLIN, Oct. 26. The political struggle is now between the advocates of stabilisation and reaction, but the news of the evacuation of Cologne might induce the Nationalists to change their minds. Apparently a general election is inevitable over the Locarno Pact.

The Nationalist paper Deutsche Zeitung already claims that the Pact is dead. General Hindenburg's position is also most delicate, as he lias given approval to the Locarno settlement, and his decision is now challenged by his own party. LONDON, Oct, 25.

‘The Locarno Pact must be accepted” was (lie gist of a speech by Dr. Stresemann at Karlsruhe, in which lie emphasised that what had been accomplished at Locarno deserved the approval of every German believing that the regeneration of Germany was the only possible basis of a peaceful Europe. ‘‘lf Germany gives proof of her peaceful intentions by signing the Locarno Pact,” he said, “then the other Powers must justify their faitli with a practical demonstration of results that may be expected from this new situation.” He specificially mentioned that as to Cologne the evacuation was expected to precede the signing of the Locarno Pact. With the existence of the Pact there was no logical reason for retaining a long military occupation in order to secure peace. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent points out any change in the Governments of France and Germany is unlikely to affect the ratification of the Pact. M. Painleve is hourly ex-pected to hand the President Cabinet’s collective resignation. It is expected the reconstructed Cabinet will include M. Herriot’s Ministry, whose support of the capital levy will soon, produce a new crisis. « t

The Daily Mail adds: “Soviet secret agents are carrying out an intrigue in Paris and South European capitals to form a bloc against the Security Pact. They are 'offering France a bribe of the repayment of 2A- per cent, of her pre-war credits. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PACT. GERMANY DETACHED FROM RUSSIA. \ (Received Oct. 27, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 26. Capt. Ormsby Gore, speaking at Manchester, said the problem to be solved at Locarno was: Shall Germany regard her future as bound up with the Western Powers or work with Russia for the destruction of Western civilisation. The significance of the Locarno Pact is tremendous. It means that Germany is detached from Russia and is throwing in her lot with the Western peoples. The Pact has also reinforced find strengthened the League of Nations tc an unexpected idegree. WHY NATIONALS VOTED AGAINST PACT. [Austrn’inn and N.Z, Cable Association! (Received Oct. 27, 10 a.m.) BERLIN, Oct, 26. It is noteworthy that only sixty of one hundred and eleven members of the National party attended the meeting this evening. It is believed the party voted against the Locarno agreement chiefly because it was dissatisfied with the Allies’ vague promises regarding the amelioration of the regime in the Rhineland and the evacuation l of the Cologne zone, concerning which it is complained that not a single written guarantee was' given.' /