REPUDIATION OF WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1928, Page 9

REPUDIATION OF WAR

PROPOSED TREATY DRAFT BRITISH PRESS APPROVAL SATISFACTION IN FRANCE By Telegraph—Press Assn —Copyright. Australian Press Association. United Service. London, June 21. The text has been issued of Mr. Kellogg’s drat* anti-war treaty, whieli n been addressed to 14 nations, ineiud ug Japan, Poland, Czeclto-Slovakia, the otter Locarno signatories, the British Dominions and India. It consists of two main articles. The first solemnly condemns recourse to war for the solution of international controversies, and renounces it as an instrument of national policy. The second agrees to the solution of all disputes, whatsoever their character, by pacific means. The text is preceded by a preamble, the first three clauses of which have been revised and give express recognition of the principle that if a State resort to war in violation of the treaty, the other signatories are released from the obligations of the treaty to that State. The revised clauses read as follow: — “Firstly the signatories are deeply sensible of their solemn duty to promote the welfare of mankind. “Secondly, they are persuaded that the time has come when a frank renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy should be made so that existing peaceful and friendly relations ;may be perpetuated. “Thirdly, they are convinced that all changes in relations with one another should only be sought by pacific means, and be the result of peaceful, orderly process, and any signatory which may seek to promote national interests by resort to war should be denied the benefits of the treaty.” SELF-DEFENCE RESERVATIONS. LITTLE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. Received June 25, 8.45 p.m. London, June 25. Sir Frederick Pollock, an authority on international law, commenting on Mr. Kellogg’s Note, says M. Briand would like to define the necessary reservations of self-defence, whereas Mr. Kellogg would like to leave them to be implied. He asks whether Mr. Kellogg has reflected that implied exceptions may turn out to be wider than expressed ones. The Daily Telegraph expresses the opinion that Mr. Kellogg has shown much tact and good sense in his new Note. It will be observed that Mr. Kellogg makes no reference to Sir Austen Chamberlain's observations respecting regions of special and vital interest to the British Empire. Mr. Kellogg’s silence can only bo interpreted to mean he recognises the facts as clearly as wo do. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that Mr. Kellogg’s Note has been hailed with satisfaction, especially the clause releasing signatories in the event of aggression, and thus enabling the bringing in to the League Covenant of all agreements against an aggressor. It is regretted the clause is placed in the preamble instead of being embodied in the pact. The latter is preferable because it would prevent any possible misunderstanding.