WORLD PEACE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20543, 19 February 1935, Page 7

WORLD PEACE.

London Proposals Explained. AGGRESSION BY AIR. MR rORBES OK DOMINION'S OBLIGATIONS. Star ” Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, This Day. 1 A long statement about international agreements and in explanation of the new proposals being made in London concerning aggression by air was read in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes). He explained New Zealand’s obligations to the Mother Country’, particularly with reference* to the London proposals. “We are facing a most interesting and important development in the association of European nations, a movement w’hich may well lead to a material improvement in international security and correspondingly, it may be hoped, to a substantial reduction in the armaments of the world,” said Mr Forbes. “By the covenant of the League of Nations each member of the league undertook to respect and preserve the territorial integrity’ of every' other member, and when the covenant was framed there was considerable difference of opinion as to whether this collective guarantee of each individual State was, if necessary’, to be supported m the last resort by force. The covenant as adopted did undoubtedly contemplate the application, of force in certain circumstances, but since the inception of the league the tendency has for obvious reasons been strongly against the application of force and in favour of the alternative method of conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement. Enforcing the Covenant. “It is undoubtedly felt in some quarters that the league’s collective sy’Rtem of maintaining the pef>re of the world must fail unless the membership of the league is practically universal and unless, and this is the point that we have arrived at now, every Power can be relied upon to implement its undertakings in the fullest degree, or if that cannot be depended upon (and there are many consider it cannot) unless some means is provided of enforcing, if necessary*, by arms, the application of the principles of the covenant. “W e may all agree with complete unanimity that war is an anachronism and a nightmare that should be removed from the world, and undoubtedly it helps to have this sentiment repeatedly brought before all Governments and peoples, but it is not enough, so long as any doubt exists as to whether the peace structure will stand any strain that may be placed upon it by a warlike Power, and so long as any doubt exists that all countries can be relied upon to abide by the collective system that they have deliberately bound themselves to accept. At the present time no prudent Government, responsible for the lives and well-being of millions of people, could possibly feel that their security is fully safeguarded without armaments. New Proposals. Only’ a few weeks ago France settled some long-standing differences with Italy and thus paved the way* for proposals just made in London. Briefly*, these proposals are:—An attempt to lessen the tension in Western Europe in the first place by’ what is known as a * Regional Pact.’ arrived at by common agreement between the Locarno Powers, which might solve the vexed questions of security*, the restriction on German armaments contained in the Treaty’ of \ ersailles. and Germany’s membership of the League of Nations, with a most important suggestion, amounting to an extension of the principles of Locarno, with particular reference to the special danger of attack by air. “ The proposal now made by France is that all the Locarno Powers, namely. Germany’, Belgium. Franee, Italy and Great Britain, should, with the object of deterring an aggressor, join in an undertaking immediately to give the assistance of their air force to whichever of them might be the victim of unprovoked aerial aggression by one of the contracting parties. “ The proposal is not made as an arrangement between France and Great Britain; it is a proposal made by France, supported by Great Britain, for the consideration of these five Powers, with Germany’, of course, taking an equal share in the consideration of the proposals, and it is a vital condition of the w’hole arrangement that Germany, if she accepts it. should return to her place in the League of Nations. Aggression in the Air. “It will be observed that this proposal is confined to the Locarno Powers and is largely a formal reiteration of the principles of Locarno, but it differs from the Locarno Treaty of Guarantee in three respects; (1) It is confined to aggression in the air. (2) Great Britain undertakes an extension of her Locarno obligations, firstly* by way of a more precise definition of the action that is to be taken in certain circumstances, and secondly in this way, that in addition to guaranteeing Germany*, France and Belgium against attack by* one or other of them, as in the Locarno Treaty, she will also presumably* guarantee Italy against aerial attack by Germany, France or Belgium, and vice versa. (3) The new proposal differs from the Locarno Treaty very’ radically*, inasmuch as Britain herself is guaranteed on this against aerial attack. Under the Locarno Treaty it will be remembered the United Kingdom was a guaranteeing Power only and was not guaranteed in any way.

“ A party to this proposal, to the extent that it honours its obligations—and Great Britain would, of course, honour hers—accepts the obligation in case of unprovoked aggression to plunge its people into war. Once a Power party* to the arrangement is satisfied that the ‘ unprovoked agression ’ has taken place (and the decision will, of course, rest with each individual party), the action should be automatic, and such a guaranteeing Power may* find itself forced into war b. v the action of other Powers in a f l u^ f° r which it is no.t responsible and over which it has no control.” New Zealand Involved. Mr Forbes said his final comment was addressed directly to the people of

New Zealand. The British Dominion* were not parties to this proposed pact, ' just as they were not parties to tha : Treaty' of Locarno, but if the arrangement came into force, and if ever the nations that are parties to the arrangement were required to apply the proposed guarantees, there must be no blinking the fact that, if Great Britain became involved in war. New Zealand would also be involved. This was so not only* because of the legal position as it was accepted in New Zealand, but because the sentiment of this country would inevitably* insist on New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder j with Great Britain in such circum- t stances. Even were these two reasons absent, any catastrophe that affected > Great Britain must inevitably affect New Zealand also, bound up as we , were in the w-elfare of the Old Country. “ I do not wish to discuss these questions at any greater length,” concluded Mr Forbes. “The Government have been, of course, fully informed by his Majesty’s Government in the United . Kingdom, and we must necessarily observe the confidential nature of many of the communications received, but I 1 do wish our people to know of the * numerous and difficult questions in-/ volved in the present situation, what-1 ever one’s point of view, I am confident } that all will share the opinion that the Old Country has once again taken a bold and courageous step, and has again shown her willingness to face a risk in the interests of world peace and the security of mankind.'-