LOCARNO PACT DENOUNCED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 December 1925, Page 7

LOCARNO PACT DENOUNCED.

Statement by Soviet Spokesman. BALANCE OF POWER DISTURBED. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright* Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association. (Received .December 16, 5.5 p.m.; NEW YORK, December 15. "What is believed to be the beginning of an appeal by Soviet Russia direct to the people of America against the Locarno Treaties,, is contained in a cablegram sent by the Soviet Ambassador, M. Lokowsky (in Paris) to the “New York Times.” The message says: “I consider that only the future will tell whether the Locarno Agreement lias contributed to the general peace. Our public opinion looks with great mistrust on every alliance, considering that every new grouping of nations disturbs the balance of power, and facilitates the eventuality of conflict. Locarno, in our interpretation, is by objective and in the development of events directed against Russia. Peace which is organised either without or against Russia is an impossibility.” HOPE OF DISARMAMENT. DISTINGUISHED GENERAL’S VIEWS. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian find Cable Association. LONDON, December 15. General Sir iueuorick Maurice, writing in tne ‘Daily i\ews,” said: “Tlio ■Uisarmamein: ciiscussipns • at Geneva only empiiasised tiie diiueuitiee. X nave ceased to hope that a general Disarmament conference ■would produce any immediate result. The complete abolition of arm ament a is impracticable, likewise the simultaneous application of a general scheme of limitation. Britain opposes Prance's suggestion that members of the League should earmark tjie forces available against an aggre'ssor. There are four British reasons: (1) It would be an important step towards creating a League army, whicli connotes with the creation of a superstate. It would he unthinkable to have military forces without control by Government of some sort. lam convinced the people of the Empire favouring the League would immediately become opponents if the League were given power to order their sons to go to war without the parents’ consent. (2) Such commitments would almost certainly entail an increase in our armaments. (3) The Dominions’ opposition, particularly Canada, would be invincible. (4) It would again provoke a clamour against handing the British Navy to the League. “A general limitation of armaments remains a dream. When the atmosphere of 1914 became highly charged, the situation got out of the hands of statesmen and diplomatists, because the ponderous military machines had begun to move. No power could stop them. The only way to prevent a recurrence is to replace fear by confidence. Let confidence exert a natural influence. The Locarno spirit must gradually be applied to Europe’s danger spots, removing the incentive to competition in armaments. The taxpayers’ ins’stence on economy is also a strong factor.”