19

A.—s

CONCLUSIONS. The work of the Sixth Assembly was not by any means so exciting as that of the Fifth, although it may ultimately prove to be the fact that more substantial progress has been made towards the peaceful solution of difficulties between nations than would have been possible under the protocol of 1924. The Assembly this year was largely occupied in devising a means to lay to rest the protocol and in saving its face by keeping alive a demand for the reduction of armaments. You will have gathered from my report of last year that there was considerable doubt in my mind as to any real good result being likely to arise from the adoption of the protocol; indeed, so convinced was I that New Zealand should not be committed to definite approval of the protocol, as was suggested in the first proposal, that I deemed it essential to move an amendment recommending " to the earnest attention of all members of the League the acceptance of the protocol," and this amendment was carried. The Sixth Assembly has endeavoured—and rightly so in my opinion—to associate itself as closely as possible with the settlement of international disputes by treaties and agreements, such as those signed at Locarno, but initiated in the first instance by the German proposal of the 9th February, 1925. The following are the various treaties and conventions arranged between the delegates of the various nations who met at Locarno :—• (1.) Treaty between Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy. (2.) Arbitration Convention between Germany and Belgium. (3.) Arbitration Convention between Germany and France. (4.) Arbitration Treaty between Germany and Poland. (5.) Arbitration Treaty between Germany and Czecho-slovakia. You will realize how different these proposals are from the protocol of last year. The protocol assumed that there must be an aggressor, and attempted to provide for the punishment of the aggressor. The principles adopted at Locarno placed reliance upon mutual good will, the cultivation of friendly feelings amongst nations, and settlement of their disputes by peaceable means, assuming that by such means the aggressor as defined in the protocol would be eliminated. It is true that the results of the Locarno Conference have to be submitted to the various Parliaments, and one expresses a very sincere hope that no difficulty will be found in endorsing the splendid work that has been done towards the attainment of peace. Locarno must be looked upon as the first stage in the process of these agreements, and one hopes, as years go by, to see nations making provision for their difficulties by treaties and agreements entered into beforehand. Although the League has not been associated with the Locarno Conference, except as I have indicated in putting its blessing upon' it, I cannot close this report without making reference to the great work which has been done by Mr. Austen Chamberlain, the British Foreign Minister, in bringing about a successful conclusion to the Locarno Conference. I attach so much importance to what took place at Locarno that I am sending you with this Report a copy of The Times of the 20th October, dealing with the Locarno treaties. So far there has not been a White Paper issued, but when one is published I will send you a copy. I have, &c., J. Allen. The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand. (Note. —Copies of the documents referred to in the foregoing report have been placed in" the General Assembly Library for convenience of reference.)

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