BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE

Southland Times, Issue 19501, 16 March 1925, Page 7

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE

HEAVY BLOW TO THE LEAGUE “A PAINFUL AWAKENING” STATEMENT OF FRENCH POLICY SUGGESTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Reuter’s Telegrams.) PARIS, March 13. (Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.) L’Echo de Paris comments that Mr Austen Chamberlain has inflicted the heaviest blow that the League of Nations has yet sustained. Apparently Britain is not willing to make any agreements till Germany, without reserve, joins the League, and is it sure that Britain will ever consent to this?

The paper accuses Britain of repudiating the Protocol’s foundations, and sapping the principles for which the League stands. Mr Chamberlain’s speech is a painful awakening and a cruel disappointment. Le Journal des Debats says the real meaning of Mr Chamberlain’s speech is that the Protocol gives the League members disproportionate powers. Britain has restored to the League a mission it can usefully fill, whereas the French thesis gives it absolute and universal authority. This is the moment most favourable for the expression of France’s true policy, for Britain has not rejected the suggested Pacts as well as the Protocol. SMALL STATES LONG FOR PROTOCOL. STATEMENT BY DR BENES. GENEVA, March 13. (Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.) The Council of the League of Nations unanimously carried a resolution submitted by Dr Benes, of Jugo-Slovakia, referring to delegates the statements in regard to the Protocol, for the September assembly of the League. Dr Benes, in the course of a lengthy speech, defended the Protocol, for which, he said, all small nations were longing. Mr Austen Chamberlain briefly recapitulated the British standpoint, and announced that he accepted Dr Benes’ resolution. GERMANY’S FRONTIERS. FOREIGN MINISTER’S STATEMENT. BERLIN, March 13. Discussing the security pact, Dr Stresemann, in an interview with the Cologne Gazette, said that Germany was unable, and did not desire, to enforce a readjustment of her eastern frontiers, but she could not be expected to renounce her rights as laid down in Article IX. of the League Statutes, which provides that agreements made can be modified in certain circumstances. THE UNITED STATES. PRESIDENT COOLIDGE’S INTENTIONS. WASHINGTON, March 14. (Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.) President Coolidge considers that recent developments abroad indicate a change in rhe disarmament situation, tending to pave the way for the United States to call a conference. The President will take up the question of a Naval Limitation Conference seriously with Mr Frank Kellogg, Secretary of State, as soon as it is definitely ascertained that the League of Nations has abandoned the Protocol.