New Britain herald., 1925-10-13


 The desire for complete security went on apace in France and some other continental countries, al- though there are some observers who have claimed that politicians greatly magnihed the circumstances A Franco-Belgian military conven- ton was announced in September, 1920.
 Then followed the Franco Polish treaty of alliance of 1921, the French h-Czechoslovak treaty of 1924, and the Little Entente agree ments between the Czechs, Rou- mania and Jugoslavia.
 If alliances and agreements counted for security. there was much of it by 1925. But 1914 show cd st4ances do not exactly mean absolute security. More is needed, or different system. Yet Anglo French pact negotiations continued and the Cannes conference came and failed because Britain refused to guarantee the eastern frontier of Germany.
 The effort of the League Of Ma tions to provide security was slow CT, less spectacular and not always front page news, but 1t was quite sure Of Its goal in some respects. The most important move forward was the conclusion reached in 1922 that many governments could not reduce ornaments without some guarantee of security and that such assurance could be given by a general treaty of mutual defense. The Assembly in 1922 explicitly en- dorsed this conclusion, and thus security and disarmament were definitely linked for the first time.
 Ever since that time efforts have been made to bring about both things. The Draft Treaty of Mutual assistance, which the 1928 Assembly of the League referred to various governments, at least created dis cussion of the possibilities. The Geneva Protocol of 1924, a substi- ute for the draft treaty linked se- curity and disarmament with arbi- tration, and France among other states signed 1t, Had the MacDon- | aid government remained in power 1t is probable England also would have signed. The Conservative gov ernment rejected 1t.
 Germany's proposal for pact of pon-aggression In 1922 through the American secretary of state, was at | least a symptom that the desire for | security had percolated into Berlin as well as existing at its height in Paris. But the proposal was con- sidered a mere gesture, and perhaps rightly. The real thing out of Ger many came on February g, 1925. When brought to a realization trat l the old Anglo French treaty of guarantee might yet be revived, the German government presented a note to France suggesting a willing ness to discuss a security pact and that 8 world convention upon the lines Of the Protocol might eventu- ate. As France had signed the Pro- tocol, the prospect brought a fav- orable reply from France. Paris in- sisted Germany would have to join the League of Nations without reservations. And after much diplo- matic pickering, with the approval of Britain in the background, the Locarno conference came into be- ing.
 As Is the case at all conferences both sides - or all sides - to the discussions projected n u m erous claims, but experienced observer! are not alarmed by such byplay The main idea behind the Lacarnr conference is security - Franc has shaped her policy ever since tn, close of the war to attain it, tn, other Allied nations have beel struggling for it. and the reason fo the effort has been fear of a re |, vamped Germany In the futur years. With Germany in the League { and part of the machinery of Flu ropean security instead of being op posed to 1t, it can be realized tha the dawn of a new era is at hand , l ----------------------