LOCARNO SPIRIT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16975, 5 March 1926, Page 11

LOCARNO SPIRIT.

SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN'S

EXPLANATION.

DIFFICULT AND DELICATE

SITUATION

COUNCIL MUST BE UNANIMOUS.

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United i'ross Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March "o, 3 .p.m.) LONDON, March 4.

There has been too little recognition of that viewpoint in the press controversy, said Sir A. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, but he was ijhedurnged to hope for better things from the statements of representatives of the nations directly concerned, all of whom showed the same appreciation of the difficulty and delicacy of the situation, and the proof of modern- : tion of outlook in the desire to' arrive at an agreement. We regret! these large issues have arisen at the present time. We did not raise them or instigate the raising, but perhaps it is inevitable that they should have cropped up. Sir A. Chamberlain said if he understood aright, the British nation wis not unalterably opposed to any change or addition to the Council, but feared Hint opening Ike question would endanger the Locarno agreement, or that thoro was something in the air that was not fair play. The other day Dr. Stresemann alluded to the presence of Lord Castleroagh 's photograph in the room where the Locarno agree meat was signed, and rightly deduced that it meant the British policy was the same now as Lord Castleroagh's after the Napoleonic wars. PROTECTING THE WORLD. The only difference was the League was used as the iustrumen't of the present policy, which was to protect the world against n repetition df the evils, or dangers, it had just escaped, aind welcomed back to the Concert of Nations the enemy of yesterday. It must always be a guiding principle for British delegates ,to Geneva that they should nut bo parties: to anything endangering the success of Locarno, or making it biipossilble tit the iast moment, for Germany to enter the League as she sought in .fulfilment of lur assurance of peaceful intentions. Hew all .the divergencies could be reconciled no man could say. Britain would not be a party to trying to recreate, within the League, camps of opposing forces which wore Ike curse of Europe before the war, hut what m:is one vote more or less to anybody since there could lie no result unless the Council v.as unanimous. There might be an exceptional case when the Council would have to decide by a majority vote and then it Mould be a temptation not to make the Council as authoritative and influential as possible for peace, but lobby to obtain a majority. Therefore till changes took place, which he did not expect to sec, it M-as essential to preserve the rule 'of unanimity.

BRITISH DELEGATES' GUIDING

PRINCIPLES

He doubled if any future British representative, would' say the Council must always retain its original form Kll-. altered. He doubted whether the next Assembly would be content with last. year's re-elections, but for the knowiedego that it would bo shortly reviewed, its composition must bo subject to free interchange of ideas, but should bo kept of manageable size. Any increase in the number of permanent seals must be examined) with most particular scrutiny. Britain had not taken Up tlio position there should not be an addition of permanent seats, except on the entry of Germany, the United States or Russia. There had been private discussion in that connection four years ago. Britain had then supported Spain's admittance, and did not see anything to cause a change in Her attitude towards that point. There were some States which were not qualified for permanent seats, but which at the particular moment it Was desirable to have represented! on the Council. To argue differences and! achieve agreement summarised the guiding principles of British delegates should be first that nothing bo done to jeopardise Locarno or give any power the right to say it had been unfairly treated or entrapped. JUDGED ON ITS MERITS. Sir A. Chamberlain said secondly that if the Council was unanimously favorable to any claim it would liave to be judged on its merits. Britain was not prepared to say a priori, that no'Claim should be admitted undeir any eirc-tim-stances, but if any particular admittance directed a way to'peace, they would certain- not reject or oppose admittance of. "tlio grounds that they prefer to discuss it in September. * That morning he had accepted a German suggestion that tlio Powers hold a, preliminary discussion before the Council met.

Mr Lloyd George: Does that mean that in the absence of agreement Britain will not voto for an addition to the Council ?

Sir A. Chamberlain: I am not prepared to go beyond! 'the statement. J want to stretch out my hands to others and see them stretch out Gieir's to me. Ido not want to have mine lied, m that my most friendly gesture must necessarily be" futile. Other representatives make the same plea for the same, reason, for the sake of concord and peace, meeting as friendly colleagues, intent on making Ihe Geneva meeting one more stop towards reconciliation and peace." '' PACKLYO THE COPNCO,.'' SMUTS SUMS UP POSTTTOX. LONDON, Fob. 21. General J. C. Smuts, ox-Priino Minister, and now Loader of the Opposition in South Africa, declares, in response lo an invitation front the Daily News, Tor an expression of his views, that (he suggested enlargement; of 'the League of Nations would constitute .1 device to pack the Council, thus dealing a smashing blow at both the 1 eague, and the Locarno fact, and injuring the l.o'iguo, which often had l*eon lamentably weak, more than all the failures of the past five years. "The League's defenders,'" he says, "must veto this proposal for the purpose of retaining Europe's last hope of peace. The. Looai'no treaties at present arc in the melting* pot, and their spirit may suddenly be, changed, blighting all our new-born hopes. "Germany's magnificent offer 'fl'f conciliation litis opened it new chapter for Europe. She has voluntarily and finally renounced Alsiee Lorraine. Should others be asked to guarantee (he French frontiers if Prance treats that renunciation lightly'.' The I'VancoGorinaii situation requires honorable dealing and scrupulous regard for the proprieties. "The Locarno negotiations begun as a gentleman's business, and should be completed in the same spirit."