MUTUAL SECURITY PACT

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1934, Page 5

MUTUAL SECURITY PACT

DISARMAMENTS PROBLEM RUSSIA’S CONTRIBUTION THREE GROUPS OF POWERS PREVENTING AGGRESSION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Geneva, May 22. M. Litvinoff, Russian Foreign Minister, will submit a plan for a mutual security pact to the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference on Sunday. He is suggesting that the Political Commission should examine it immediately. The main lines follow M. Paul-Bon-cour’s suggestions in 1933, providing for three groups of Powers. The first includes all those agreeing to consultative measures in the event of aggression. The second includes all members of the League, also providing for action under the Covenant of the League. The third provides fbr a mutual European defensive alliance, excluding Britain, .for collective action in the event of aggression. The Soviet proposal notes that the first three articles of the MacDonald plan introduce the Soviet definition of an aggressor. Meanwhile it is understood the United States will push the question of supervision and control. The significance of M. Litvinoff’s move is increased by the prospects of Russia joining the League in September. It is believed that she has modified her original stipulation that a full vote of the Assembly must precede an invitation to her to join. France will endeavour to secure hex’ smooth election, which requires a two-thirds majority.