GERMANY GIVES PROMISE OF AID.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18453, 2 May 1928, Page 10

GERMANY GIVES PROMISE OF AID.

WILL WILLINGLY SIGN TREATY TO REMOVE POSSIBILITY OF WAR. (United Press Assn.—By Electric* Telegraph—Copyright). BERLIN, May 1. Germany, replying to Mr Kellogg's Note, states that she is ready to enter an international pact to outlaw war. She points out that the dominating ideas of M. Briand's and Mr Kellogg's proposals tally w'ith Germany’s policy, which has no higher interest than abolishing the possibility of war and ensuring peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr Kellogg’s proposals nearly attain this goal. The reply adds that Germany has not entered international obligations similar to the proposed pact except the League Covenant and the Locarno Pact, which do not conflict with the American proposals. On the contrary, a binding obligation not to make -war would strengthen both the Covenant and the Locarno Pact. Nevertheless, the proposals do not interfere with sovereign States’ right of self-defence, because if the pact were violated other contracting parties would regain their freedom of action. The Note emphasises the necessity for acceptance of the Pact, which it hopes will give an effective impulse to general disarmament.—Australian Press Association— United Service.

BRITAIN WANTS TIME TO CONSIDER PACT.

RUGBY, April 30. Sir Austen Chamberlain made a state ment in reply to Mr Ramsay MacDonald regarding the L T nited States proposals for a treaty to outlaw war. The Foreign Secretary said that the Government warmly welcomed the proposal of the United States Government that a further joint effort should be made to safeguard the peace of the world. It had been giving close and sympathetic attention to the text of the treaty proposed by Mr Kellogg and to the observations and suggestions regarding it offered by the French Government. The Government did not doubt that the proposal could be brought to success, but time was obviously needed for examination of the various issues raised and of the important declarations and explanations given by the American Secretary of State, of which the last was only reported in this morning’s papers, as well as for consultation with the dominions and with the United States and other Governments concerned. He could not, therefore, at present indicate the date when a discussion could usefully be held in the House, but. in a week or ten days he would be able, to make a more specific statement as regards the discussion. He hoped that what he had said would be sufficient for the moment in regard to the British Government’s attitude.—British Official Wireless.