SECURITY PACT

Southland Times, Issue 19690, 24 October 1925, Page 7

SECURITY PACT

ATTITUDE OF DOMINIONS AN INTERESTING STATEMENT EFFECTS OF THEIR EXCLUSION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N_Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, October 22. Mr Richard Jebb, in a striking letter to the Morning Post dealing with the deliberate exclusion of India and the dominions from the Security Pact says: “Hitherto the choice before a dominion government or parliament when Britain goes to war, was a choice between passive or active belligerency. Under the new Pact, assuming a dominion does not accept it, the choice will be between belligerency of either degree on one hand, or neutrality. The latter, which is often popularly confused with passive belligerency, is a third party attitude. Non-discrimination between beihgerents would mean that the dominions would be bound not to make a distinction between Britain and her enemy, treating both alike with regards facilities to carry on war.” “If this is a correct interpretation of Clause 9 of the Pact, the new treaty provides for dissolution of the Empire in the event of war arising. From that, for the first time, the Dominion’s right to neutrality is recognised. Possibly the official answer will be that it really does not matter because by virtue of the League of Nations Covenant, the dominions are bound to go to war simultaneously with Britain. If so, the official view has changed remarkably since Britain’s anxiety to maintain the Empire’s diplomatic unity in relation to Canada’s proposal to appoint a Minister at Washington and since the Lausanne Treaty, from which the dominions were most significantly not exempted.. Thus Locarno seems speedily to have fulfilled the warning, Tf you start the League of Nations you will destroy the Empire.’ Some of us would rather have preserved the Empire, even at the expense of restricting the scope of the League.” Mr Richard Jebb travelled in Egypt, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India between 1897 and 1901. He has written extensively on Imperial problems, his most important work being a history and a study of the Imperial Conference in two volumes. THE SIGNING IN LONDON. BIG CELEBRATIONS PLANNED. LONDON, October 23. (Received October 23, 10.15 p.m.) Arrangements are progressing to make the signing of the Treaty of Locarno in London on December 1 the occasion of the celebrations of the City Corporation. It was decided yesterday to hold a reception at the Guildhall, following the signing. Prime Ministers and foreign secretaries of the Powers will be invited. Speakers emphasised a desire to associate the city with the historic event. SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTITUDE. RATIFICATION IMPROBABLE. CAPETOWN, October 22. (Received October 23, 7.25 p.m.) General Hertzog refuses to be interviewed regarding the Security Pact, but those in close touch with him indicate that, while General Hertzog is definitely of opinion that the Pact makes for world peace and is undoubtedly in the interests of the Empire, the Union Government will refuse to be drawn into European commitments and he is unlikely to ask Parliament to ratify the Treaty of Locarno.