WORLD PEACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20182, 26 June 1928, Page 7

WORLD PEACE

THE KELLOGG PACT’ Draft of Anti-War Treaty is Issued REVISED CLAUSES JOUBTEEN NATIONS PARTICIPATE. £ By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright ] [ Australian Press Assn. J LONDON, June 24. The text has been issued of Mr Kellogg’s draft anti-war treaty. It " haa been addressed to 14 nations, including Japan, Poland, Czecho-Slo-valcia, and other Locarno signatories, the British Dominions, and India. It consists of two main articles: .Firstly, solemnly condemning recourse to war for the solution of international controversies and renouncing it as an instrument of national policy; secondly, agreeing to the solution of all disputes, whatsoever their character, by pacific means. The text is preceded by a preamble, the first three clauses of which have been revised and give express recognition of the principle-that if a State resorts to war in violation of the treaty the other signatories are released from the obligations of the treaty to that State. The revised clauses read:— (1) The signatories are deeply sensible of their solemn duty to promote the welfare of mankind. (2) They are persuaded that the time has come when the frank renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy should be made, so that the existing peaceful and friendly relations may be perpetuated. (3) They arc convinced that all changes in relation with one another should only be sought by pacific means and be the result of a peaceful, orderly process, and any signatory which may seek to promote its national interests by resort to war should be denied the benefits of the treaty.

LEADING COMMENT MR KELLOGG'S GOOD SENSE BATISFACTION IN FRANCE ( Australian Press Assn. ] Received June 25, 11.15 p.m. LONDON, June 25. Sir Frederick Pollock, commenting on Jfr Kellogg’s note, says: “M. Briand Would like to define the necessary reservations of self-defence whereas Mr Kellogg would like to have them to be implied.” He asks whether Mr Kellogg has reflected that implied exceptions may turn out to be wider than expressed ones. The Daily Telegraph expresses the opinion that Mr Kellogg has shown much tact and good sense in the new note. “It will be observed that Mr Kellogg makes no reference to Sir A. Chamberlain’s observations respecting regions of special vital interest to the British Empire,” says the journal. Mr Kellogg’s silence can only be interpreted to mean that he recognise? the facts as clearly as we do.” The Paris correspondent of the Times says that Mr Kellogg’s note has been hailed with satisfaction, especially the clause releasing the signatories in the event of aggression, enabling the bringing in to the League covenant of all flie agreements against the aggressor. It is regretted that the clause is placed in the preamble instead of being embodied in the pact. The latter is preferable because it would prevent any possible misunderstanding.