DIVIDING THE EMPIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 7

DIVIDING THE EMPIRE

DOMINIONS MAY PLEASE THEMSELVES

• • / LOCARNO TREATY IN NEW LIGHT

STRIKING ARTICLE BY WELL-KNOWN PUBLICIST

x Mr. Richard Jebb, the well-known authority on Imperial and economic questions, has written a striking article in the London “Morning Post, ’ ’ In which he declares that the Locarno Treaty seems speedily to have fulfilled the warning: “If you start a League of Nations you will destroy the Empire. ’ ’ He points out that under the Pact, a Dominion may, if it wishes, adopt a policy of neutrality. Non-discrimination between belligerents would mean that the Dominion would be bound not to make a distinction between Britain and her enemy, treating both alike as regards facilities to carry on war. ,

Bjr Telegraph—Per Preu Alan.—Copyrliht

DISSOLUTION OF EMPIRE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PACT A STRIDING ARTICLE Received Oct. 23, 7.25 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 22. Mr Richard Jebb, in a striking letter to ‘‘The Morning Post,” dealing with the deliberate exclusion of India and the Dominions from the Security • Pact, says: “Hitherto the choice before a Dominion Government or Parliament when Britain goes to war has been between passive or active belligerence. Under the new Pact, assuming a Dom inion does not accept it, the choice will be between belligerency in either degree on the one hand, or neutrality. The latter, which is often popularly confused with passive belligerency, is a third party attitude. Non-discrimina-tion between belligerents would mean that the Dominions would be bound not to make a distinction between Britain and her enemy, treating both alike as regards facilities to carry on war. “If this is correct, the interpretation of clause nine of the Pact in the new treaty provides for dissolution of the Empire in the event of war. Arising from that, for the first time the Dominions’ right to neutrality is recognised. Possibly the official answer will be that it really does not matter, because by virtue of the League of Nations Covenant the Dominions are bound to go to war simultaneously with Britain. If so, the official view has changed remarkably since Britain’s anxiety to maintain the Empire’s diplomatic unity in relation to Canada’s proposal to appoint a Minister at Washington and since the Lausanne Treaty, from which the Dominions were most significantly not exempted. Thus Locarno seems speedily to have fulfilled the warning: ‘lf you start a

League of Nations you will destroy the Empire.’ Some of us would rather have preserved the Empire, even at the expense of restricting the scope of tho League." . THE SIGNING OCCASION OF CELEBRATIONS Received Oct 23, 10.15 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. Arrangements are progressing to make the signing of the Treaty of Locarno in London on December 1 the occasion of celebrations. The City Corporation decided yesterday to hold a reception at the Guildhall following the signing. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretaries of the Powers will be invited. Speakers emphasised a desire to associate the city with the historic event. WHAT WILL SOUTH AFRICA DO? .NON-RATIFICATION SUGGESTED Received Oct. 23, 7.25 p.m. CAPE TOWN, Oct. 22. General Hertzog, Premier of South Africa, refuses to be interviewed regarding the Security Pact, but those in close touch with him indicate that while General Hertzog is definitely of opinion that the Pact makes for world peace, and is undoubtedly in the interest of the Empire, the Union Government will refuse to be drawn into European commitments, and is unlikely to ask Parliament to ratify the Treaty, of Locarno.