The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-29
ANOTHER NOTE
GIVEN FRANCE
ON QUESTION
U. s. Secretary Claims There
Is No Bar to q Multilat.
cral Treaty
nee IS DOUBTFUL
French Paper Says New Note
Makes Genuine Progress
Over Earlier One
nee Is DOUBTFUL

washington. Feb. 29.--(AP)-Re.
newing his plea that France Join
with the United States in laying the
groundwork for a treaty prescrib-
ing war between the principal pow.
crs. Secretary Kellogg has sent an
other note to France in which ho Op-
poses the contention that such 4 pact
would violate her obligations under
the League of Nations.
France has maintained doubt
whether. as a member Of the league
and n party to the Locarno and
other treaties guaranteeing neutral
ity. she could enter into a multi
lateral treaty outlawing war as an
instrument Of national policy with
out running afoul of these obliga-
tions. and has suggested instead \
treaty along this line only with the
United States.
In his latest note, Secretary kcl-
logg argues that the only difference
between a bilatral and multilateral
treaty to abolish war is lone of de-
gree and not Of substance" and de-
clarcs the United States is indiffer-
ent to the precise language to be
used in the proposed pact so long as
it clearly and Enthusiastically sets
forth the determination of the
parties to abolish war among them
selves"
Nations Right Upheld
| Taking up Frances admission that
she saw no bar to the conclusion Of
an unqualified antiwar treaty with
the United States alone. the noto
declares that any government free to
conclude such a treaty SHOULD be
no less able to become a party to an
identical multilateral treaty since it
is hardly to be presumed that men,
bers of the League of Nations are in
II position to do separately sonc-
thing they cannot do together"
IF, however, members of the
League of Nations cannot, without
violating the terms Of the covenant
Of the league, agree among them
selves and with the government Of
the United States to renounce war
rs an instrument of their national
policy the note adds, "it seems idle
to discuss either bilateral or multi
lateral treaties unreservedly re-
nouncing war;"
0tteS recent conference
! Mr.. Kellogg attaches significance
to the recent adoption by the Pan
American conference at Havana of
resolution condemning war, point
ing out that II Of the q nations
represented are members of the
league.
! Declaring that inclusion in the
proposed treaty of definitions Of the
word "aggressor" and exceptions and
qualifications stipulating when ma
tions would be justified in going to
war would weaken the instrument,
the note concludes:
Il, therefore, renew the suggestion
contained in my note Of January IL,
1928, that the government of France
; join with the government Of the
United States in transmitting to the
British, Italian. German and Japan
csc governments for their consider
alton and comment the text of M.
Brands original proposal, together
with copies of the subsequent COR
respondencc between France and the
United States, as a basis for pre-
liminary discussions looking to the
conclusion of an appropriate multi
lateral treaty prescribing recourse
to war;"
Surprise was expressed in some
quarters that Secretary kellogg's
last note continues to address
France alone while mentioning Eng
land, Italy, Germany and Japan as
proposed joint signers of multi
lateral pact to outlaw war.
The feeling was freely expressed
in official circles that inasmch as
the United States responded to the
French proposal for bilatcral pact
with proposition including four
other nations. the latter nations
should be participating in the ncgo-
tiations from the start.
FRENCH PAPER BELIEVES
REAL PROGRESS IS MADE
Paris, Feb. 29.-(AP) lie Petit
Parisien today says that Secretary
Kellogg's latest note on the outlawry
of war marks genuine progress
over the preceding ones and permits
the continued hope that some day q
/, formula satisfying all the require
ments and duties of the two govern
ments will be found. The opinion
Of Frances most widely circulated
| newspaper is shared generally by
the others.
Pertinax, writing in L'Echo de
Paris, however, strikes q sardonic
note. Secretary Kellogg, he OBJ
| serves "actS as If he hadn't ,,ndar.