MAKING PEACE WITH TURKEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 9 June 1924, Page 9

MAKING PEACE WITH TURKEY.

Debate on Lausanne Treaty

THE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

By Oabla—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 6.

In the House of Commons, Mi Macdonald announced that Canada had acquiesced in the ratification of the Lausanne Treaty. He hoped that the Irish Free State would also agree, and so enable the Treaty to be ratifiedIn regard to foreign policy ue expressed the opinion that if we are going to engage in further negotiations chat would commit either the honour or the resouroes of the Empire, the imperial Conference resolution in this connection should be the subject ot .very careful inquiry by the constitutional representatives of the Dominions as well as by Britain’s representatives. If the Dominions’ representatives were men of wide experience in government and constitutional working, sitting with us as a sort of specialised sub-committee or committee at the Imperial Conference to explore whether we could not make some provision, it would be a good thing. The resolution must be a little more definite and so remove possible misunderstanding, but he emphasised that the British Government must have power to make rapid decisions. He said that on three important occasions in his own brief experience, it was very neoassary for him to take his courage in his hands and to risk.; the consequences and say": “That is our decision.” And on each occasion, the result justified his action. Mr Macdonald emphasised that the so-called Chanak telegram had tremendously changed relations between the Dominions and Britain. He : promised a statement to the House before anything definite was done. Sir Edward Grigg denounced the omission of the late Government to send separate plenipotentiaries to Lausanne. The result was that the Lausanne Treaty was. the only peace treaty not signed by the whole Empire.

Mr Macdonald said that, in regard to procedure in the future, the Gov eminent stood by the resolutions of the last Imperial Conference that the Dominions interested should be in formed before the treaty negotiations were opened, and, where their interests are directly concerned, they should be represented. So far as he was concerned, the resolution would always’"be put into operation. He expressed the opinion that the time had come when we must consider what machinery is required to be created to conduct a united Imperial policy, particularly in regard to foreign affairs. Mr Lloyd George condemned the late Government’s action, and declared that all they did was to tell the Dominions they had agreed, with the Allies that the Dominions would not be represented. He - asked: • "What would be the position in the event ol trouble in ihe East? He pointed out that Russia would not abandon hei aspirations for Constantinople and the Straits, while he could not imagine that Italy would be always satisfied to have great derelict lands, which were once prosperous under the Italian.flag, and which now languished under the Turkish flag without making some effort. Turkey might always be depended upon to provoke a quarrel. Trouble was inevitable in the East. The Hon. Orrnsby Gore (Conserva. tive) declared that Mr Lloyd George’s remarks were most mischievous. The Earl of "Winterton said that had Mr Lloyd George’s Turkish policy been allowed to proceed, it would have gone a long way towards making the problem of the Government of India impossible. There was nobody more universally distrusted in India oi whose policy was believed to have been more disastrous to the relations of India with Britain than Mr Lloyd George.

CONSULTING THE DOMINIONS.

MACDONALD’S RECENT UTTERANCES. By Oabl* Fr«« Association —Copyright, Received 5.5 p.m., June 7. LONDON, June 6. The newspapers interpret Mr MacDonald’s statement in the House of Commons, on the Lausanne Treaty, as foreshadowing further conferences with the Dominions to lay down future procedure. Mr Macdonald remarked that the Colonial Office sends out a weekly cablegram to Australasia, Canada and Africa, outlining foreign events. Naturally, Dominion Ministers will begin to express opinions thereon, but opinions expressed at the end of long cablegrams are not in negotiation. The question arises whether it is possible, or necessary, to supplement them by creating a contract, which comes nearer to sharing the obligation, and removes mis* understanding.

! WHAT IRELAND SAYS. i - i ! “NOT PARTIES TO REQUEST FOR j ADVICE." ! By Cable—Frees Association—Copyright. j ' LONDON, June 0. i President Cosgrave, replying to a j question in the Dail, said that ‘‘the | British Government’s desire to obtain advice from the Judicial Com- ' mittee of the Privy Council regarding i Article 12 of the Treaty of Lausanne, i does not call for a statement from me. We have made it perfectly clear I that we are not parties to the request , for advice.” j Received 5.5 p.m., Juno S. i DUBLIN, June 7. j Mr Cosgrave, speaking in the Dail 1 Haid: "The Free State made it clear that they would not he parties to the j judicial committee. *