The Waikato Times TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1934. DISARMAMENT AND THE LOCARNO PACT.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19203, 13 March 1934, Page 4

The Waikato Times TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1934. DISARMAMENT AND THE LOCARNO PACT.

In an extract published in this column to-day Viscount Snowden, a former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer makes an insistent appeal for courageous and determined action by European statesmen to avert the catastrophe to which the present armaments race is hastening the world. In the main the sentiments expressed by Lord Snowden are not new, for what he has said has been said many times before. His reference to Locarno, however, possesses an unaccustomed boldness —the boldness born of despair.

Both the Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, have reiterated Britain’s acceptance of the binding force of the obligations entered into at Locarno. Their attitude, praiseworthy though it may be from all moral standpoints, has cost them a great deal of popularity, and there is a considerable body of opinion in Britain at the present time, which favours the retirement of the Foreign Secretary to some other portfolio, and his replacement by someone who will speak with more confident authority and with a keener sense of the requirements of British prestige.

Lord Snowden, however, although he has in no way minimised the seriousness of those obligations, has made use of them in a clear and logical argument for disarmament. “The condition of Britain’s acceptance of the Locarno Treaty,” he states, “is that, in the meantime the heavily-armed Powers would undertake a large measure of disarmament.” Morally at least, therefore, Britain is in no way bound by an agreement which has been so long dishonoured by the other parties. It is significant that France, which was most anxious to have the assurance of British support against any foreign aggression, should he the most flagrant offender and the chief stumbling block in the way of disarmament.

Notwithstanding her close reliance on her own defensive armaments, which have involved the expenditure of colossal sums on fortifications, equipment, and munitions, France has repeatedly shown her belief in the certainty of British support as secured by the Locarno Treaty. A blunt announcement of Britain’s intention to ignore the Locarno agreement until such time as France and other European Powers reduce their armaments to more reasonable levels should have a salutary effect. As Lord Snowden states, hesitation and delay will bring disaster, and Britain may well wish for the services of another Lord Palmerston to guide her course in the shoals and shallows of foreign diplomacy.

That her exemplary policy of disarming while other nations have increased their armaments has been a failure is now recognised in Britain. In that recognition lies the greatest hope that some other and more direct method may be employed to induce tho European Powers to cease their reckless competition. In blaming them, France in particular, for the state of affairs in Germany, Loid Snowden has erred, if anything, on the side of moderation, and British public opinion is increasingly veering towards a return of sympathy with Germany in the injustices she has received at French hands. Vindictiveness has been slow to die in Europe, and until France is prepared to see reason, and review in Germany’s favour her many admitted grievances there seems little prospect of the situation being eased in any degree.