Evening star., 1924-11-19
ATTEMPT TO SCRAP
SECURITY PROTOCOL
DENIED IN LONDON
Baldwin Explains. Plea That
League Forego Discus
sion at Present.
SEES SAME END GAINED
BY Different METHOD
Indicates Substitute Will Be Of
fered if Present Pact Is
Not O. KID.
nv tho Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, November I9.---It Is
stated in authoritative circles that
the British governments request that
the Geneva protocol on security and
disarmament be not discussed at the
coming meeting in Rome OF the
League of Nations council does not
mean that Great Britain desires to
scrap the protocol. but that the ac-
tion is simply in line with Premier
Baldwin's desire to discuss the mat
ter thoroughly with his cabinet and
the Dominions.
1t is considered that the interval
between now and December 8, the
date of the Rome meeting, is too
brief to admit of Il sufficiently
thorough canvass of the situation.
Rejection Is Denied.
II is also stated that there never
has been any desire to reject the
scheme Of security and disarmament
evolved at the last league assembly
without the substitution of con-
structive plan and that the whole
matter requires the most thorough
counsel on the part of Premier Bald
win with all of his advisers.
The government, ii was added, con-
tinues its policy of favorably re-
garding any attempt by the League of
Nations to settle the disarmament
and security question and the pres
ent protocol. so far as the govern
ment now in office understands II,
will form n sound basis for an in
ternstional conference.
Great Britain will be willing to
discuss the question after the meet
ing of the coAncil or at any other
time after the cabinet arrives at a
decision on its policy. it is stated.
seeks Same End.
Officials today denied statements
that their action in any way could
be connected with the international
aspect of the disarmament and secur-
ity problems. 1t was pointed out that
Great Britain means to allow Fra nee
and other nations 10 have security
against aggression. if not directly by
means of-tie proteeol. then by ether
measures which will attain the same
result, namely. the protection of
France against aggression on her
borders or upon her colonies.
The cabinet is understood to feel
that the public opinion of Great Brit
ain favors security for France and
other European nations. and in re-
Spect to this it's attitude on the Sc
curity problem will be congenial with
opinion here.
The letter from the British foreign
office to the League of Nations re-
Questing postponement of the discus
sion is understood TO have been dis
patched by the government on the as
sumption that 1t would arrive in
Paris and be communicated to the
members of the council before the
agerda for the council meeting was
issued and thus place the British
foreign office opinion on record be-
fore the agenda was made up.
Letter Too Late.
The letter accordingly was sent 10
Paris before the departure from Lon
don of Sir Eric Drummond, the
leagues secretary general, from his
recent visit here, but 1t did not ar
rive In the French capital before the
council had issued the agend...
Sir Eric Drummond, secretary gem
eral Of the League of Nations, left
London yesterday for Geneva, carry
ing with him the request for an in
definite adjournment of discussion of
the disarmament protocol
The Geneva protocol is scrapped,"
is the Interpretation placed by the
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