LOCARNO PACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 22 December 1925, Page 9

LOCARNO PACT

VALUE OF AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED WAR RUSSIA 'S POSITION. FARTS, Dec. 20. M. Briand explained the er>nsefruenrec of the Locarno agreement on foreign affair* and army commissions to the Chamber. He emphasised th° conviction that a similar pact in 1914 would have prevented the war. Replying to a Communist, M. Briand laid that the Locarno agreements were in no way directed against Russia, add ing that he would endeavour to reserve for Soviet Russia a position in the League of Nations equivalent to other Powers.

GENERAL RUSSELL'S OPINION REAL STEP TO PEACE [Per Press A??ociation.] AUCKLAND. Dee. 21. ajor General Sir Andrew Russell, who with Lady Russell has returned by the Aorangi from an eighteen months’ trip abroad, said the Dawes plan had achieved its two prime objects, firstly, the removal of reparation frn.m the political arena and secondly the establishment of sound, economic conditions in Germany. Owing to the downward rush of the paper mark. Germany appeared on the brink of economic and social upheaval. The Dawes scheme saved her, but only time would show how far the scheme would effect its secondary object, namely, the actual payment of Germany’s war debt to the Allies. The Locarno Pact, at the expense of involving the Empire in European affairs, whether willingly or other wise, and rendering ns liable to assist the aggrieved party with armed force, was a very real step on the road to peace. Rut far more important io the future welfare of Europe was the fa p t that with its signing Germanv was again admitted as a member of the European family on temn of equality and her destiny linked with that of Euro pean civilisation. A subject of importance to Australia and New Zea land, said Sir Andrew, was the dispute with the Turkish republic because the nation which controlled Mesopotamia controlled the land and air routes to those nutposts of the British Empire. It was important that these routes should run through countries with secure and stable government. Surrender tn the claims of the Turkish republic which had refused to accept the rulings of the League of Nations would be a sever© blow at the prestige of both the League and the British Empire.