NOT DISCUSSED AT LOCARNO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17781, 26 February 1926, Page 7

NOT DISCUSSED AT LOCARNO.

! DENIAL MADE BY SIR A. CHAMBERLANI (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received February 26, 1 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. Replying in the House of Commons to Mr Rennie Smith, Sir A. Chamberlain denied that, the extension of the League Council had been discussed at Locarno. Neither there nor before had he heard of the idea that an agreement to support a seat for Germany implied opposition to every other change. POSITION CONFUSED BY CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 26. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. It is generally considered that the League situation is confused instead of cleared by Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech. It is affirmed in political circles that whatever is the case for a reconstitution of the Council, this is an unfortunate time to raise the question. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, interviewed by the “ Daily Herald,” insisted that the question should be entirely separated from Germany’s admission. He suggests that after Germany’s admittance, the Council might invite a committee of outside internationals to report on the subject.

It is understood that Cabinet yesterday considered the matter but no decision was reached. It is known that the body of Ministerial opinion is that other applications should be subsequent to Germany's entry. ‘‘The “ Daily Chronicle ” says that it is believed that the standpoint of the dominions is that the Cabinet decision should be come to before Sir Austen Chamberlain goes to Geneva. GERMANY FLUSTERED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received February 26, 10 p.m.) BERLIN, February 24. Nothing short of consternation describes the Berlin Press reception of Sir A. Chamberlain’s speech, from which they deduce the certainty that Britain will support the French argument at Geneva. Several journals emphatically assert that if Herr Luther and Dr Stresemann are confronted with a fait accompli in the form of an extended council, Germany will unhesitatingly withdraw her application for admittance to the League. The ‘‘Tagliche Rundschau,” which is generally Dr Stresemann’s mouthpiece, says: “France and Britain can do as they like, but if they persist in the intention of extending the Council they will have to dispense with Germany’s participation.” On the other hand. Government circles betray no perturbation, and are credited with being confident that everything will proceed smoothly, that German} 1 - alone will be given a seat on the Council, and that further reconstruction will not be settled before the September session, when Germany is ready to discuss the question in the spirit of conciliation. ,