The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1928. THE KELLOG PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 20522, 26 June 1928, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1928. THE KELLOG PLAN

Revision to the Kellogg anti-war pact has made it clear that if a signatory to the multilateral treaty makes war in cjefiance of the understanding other signatories to the treaty are released from their obligations insofar as the offending power is concerned ; but it is doubtful if this declaration makes the situation any surer. The strongest possible safeguard against warlike action is the knowledge that the adoption of military force for the settlement of international disputes will result in all the other Powers falling on the offending Power with economic and, if necessary, military castigation. Mr Kellogg’s scheme goes no further than a pious renunciation of war and an under-

taking not to fight, but the punishment oi those who violate these undertakings is left undeclared, and it is impossible to see how this well phrased document is going to do any more than the League of Nations has already done. Skepticism is increased by the knowledge that the revised text has been circularized among a large number of nations from whom replies are not expected until after the Presidential elections in November, when the present Government will be preparing to go out of office. While the text is in circulation and is being considered by various Governments the document remains in being and will occupy a prominent place in the American newspapers as evidence of Washington’s initiative in advancing anti-war proposals. At the present moment no country wants war, but it is too much to say that Mr Kellogg’s scheme is going to prevent armed conflicts in the future. None of the nations signing these multilateral treaties will have such confidence in their protective strength that a reduction in the armed forces will follow, and that is one of the tests which will reveal the weakness of the Kellogg scheme. It seems to be accepted generally that the Kellogg anti-war pact does not interfere with the Locarno Pact, and does not modify or lessen the obligations of any Power under the League of Nations Covenant, so that it is fairly clear the Kellogg scheme can do no harm. It commits nations to the theoretical renunciation of war and the approval of arbitration as a means of settling international troubles, but it does not outlaw war, and it will not lead to any reduction in military and naval strength. At the same time it will help the election campaign of the Republican Party, and while that is no reason for doubting the effectiveness of the proposals it certainly acts as a reminder of the fact that the document is very little more than words. As it has come out of America it will have good publicity. All the Governments will be constrained to agree, but in private there will be growling questioners who will ask why the United States does not join the League of Nations and make use of that sounder weapon for the preservation of peace and the outlawing of war.

1928 June 1928 1 2 fir 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 IO 11 12 15 14 15 16 17 la 19 20 21 22 25 24 25 26 27 2a 29 50