May 22, Sir Austen Chamberlain's cordial acceptance of Mr. Kellogg's proposals for the outlawing of war should certainly go some way to convert the ideal into the real. The fears at first expressed that the American project would weaken or undermine the League of Nations or the Treaty of Locarno have been met by Mr. Kellogg's disclaimer that there is no intention of preventing signatories of these covenants from doing their duty by them. More important are those "certain regions in the world the welfare and integrity of which constitute a special and vital interest for British peace and safety." It will be seen with relief that Sir Austen has reiterated the warning already frequently given "that interference in these regions cannot be suffered" and that the new treaty can only be accepted "on the distinct understandwz that it does not prejudice British freedom of action in this respect." Here we come in con. flict with those peculiar _considerations which necessarily make Britain's path a difficult one in entering into internation-agreements. This it was which caused the failure of the al disarmament conference at Geneva last year; and it lies fat the root of many' suspicions, human at least if possibly unjust, that agreements proposed to Great Britain from abroad are rather meant to bind her than the other party. There is no Power in the world that has the same diversity of peculiar res-possibilities as Great Britain. That is something her Ministers cannot afford to ignore, however anxious they may be to bear their part in the chorus of pacific benevolence which is the natural concomitant of that convalescent stage the world is now passing through, after its last upheaval.
To yo back into the history of Mr. Kellogg's proposals, it may be recalled that, last June, France suggested that she and America should enter into a pact to outlaw war for er a Yan instrument of policy." To this America replied after a little delay with the amendment that all Powers should be invited to combine in so excellent idea. This occasioned a pause in France, owing to the existence of her other commitments; and thus it was that at the beginning of last month Mr. Kellogg decided to cut the Gordian knot with concrete pro: posals to the five other Great Powers to join in negotiating a worldwide treaty binding na tions not to make war. Obligations under the League of Na tions and Locarno were recognized and excluded from the operations of the new pact, for which Mr. Kelloxg proposed three articles. To quote the summary cabled at the time:—
One article condemns recourse to war for the solution of international controversies and. re-trounces it as an instrument of national policy in their relations with each other. The second the settlement of all hem shall cept by pacific means; and the third provides that when the treaty has come into effect it shall remain open as long as necessary for the adherence of all other Powers.
Ten days Jater the French Government published their alternative, This began by stipulate ing for the preservation of legitimate right of defence within the limit of existing treaties, particularly when they (the contracting parties) conceive the Siolation of certain clauses. (of the pact) as a hostile act.
An attempt is then made to define war as an instrument of national policy, in these terms:— an instrument of personal, spontaneous, independent, political aetion, wherein they take the initiative and not of actions wherein they find themselves involved by the application of a treaty such as the Covenant of the League of Nations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.