The German claim that the Franco-Soviet pact was inconsistent with Locarno ought to be seltted "by methods stated in the treaty. If The Hague Court were unsuitable, the Franco-German arbitration trealy ex-rossly provided that even legal questions could be submitted to the Permanent Conciliation Commission.
Mr. Eden said even those in Britain who thought Germany had a strong case deprecated the fact that she had chosen to present tt by force and not, by reason.
Turning to the position of Britain, the Foreign Secretary read Article IV, of the Locarno Treaty and reminded the House that the country was not Hreely "and happily placed arbiter but was a guarantor with, definite commitments, "I want in all bluntness to make this plain to the House," he added.
am not prepared tobe the first British Foreign Secretary to go back a British signature,"
Proposals, not Ultimatum At the same time, he proceeded, they were bound by' Areticle VII the Locarno Treaty itself to seek, by conciliation, to bring about a peaceful settlement and understanding.
Coming to the four-Power propose's designed to bridge the period before negotiations, the Foreign Secretary repeated that the proposals were not an ultimatum or a dictate, 1 an international force was a dif culty and the German Government had some other alternative-suggestions, the British Governmes would be prepared to take them to the other Powers for consideration, Dut it must be appreciated that without some constructive contribution from the German side, the task of whose sole aim and ambition was to start negotiations would be almost impossible. shave @ long way to go before we can Fely on the active ce-operation of all members of the League to punish age
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.