Evening star., 1935-04-15
Treaty Breach
Penalties
Sought.
MEMORANDUM
GIVEN COUNCIL
Reich Is Accused
of Destroying
Arms Talk.

Copyright, 1895. by the Associated Press9
GENEVA, April 15.-Pierre Laval,
foreign minister of France, was said
in French quarters to have ready for
the League of Nations Council session
today a recommendation for the con
demnation" of Germany and a request
that the League consider economic
penalties against nations which, in the
future, violate treaties.
As the members of the Council as
sembled for the extraordinary session,
called by France because of Reichs-
fuehrer Hitler's announcement that
Germany had rearmed, indications
were seen that France would have
difficulties in obtaining unanimous
vote Of the international delegates If
they considered the terms of Frances
condemnation of Germany too strong.
Memorandum Vigorous.
The French submitted a vigorously
worded memorandum which charged
that Germany had compromised ne
gotiations for the limitation of arma-
ment and had threatened 'the whole
idea of international relations"
Before he entered the Council SeS-
sion, high British official announced
Great Britain was determined not to
abandon her drive for an interna-
tional agreement on the limitation of
armaments.
The private session got under way
at 3:42 pm.
The French document character
ized the German military moves as
'the elimination Of long and method
ical labors pursued in secret" The
action, 1t said, "has deliberately de-
stroyed one Of the bases" of Ger
many's collaboration with the League
Of Nations.
Negotiations Compromised.
"By so doing it has seriously COM
promised the success of international
negotiations on limitation of arma-
ments pursued under the auspices of
the League of Nations and on the
basis of article 8 of the League COW
enant," the memorandum continued.
Germany has sought to provide
unilateral solution for an interna-
tional problem. For the method of
negotiations she has substituted a
method of fait accompli.
Her decisions, incompatible as
they are with any system of reduc-
tion Of armamentS, have raised
problem of general rearmament, in all
its gravity, for Europe as whole.
1T is the Councils duty to pro-
nounce upon the responsibility for
situation thus created and upon the
consequences it entails. 1t is likewise
the Councils duty to state the con-
clusions that must be drawn, for pur-
poses of their treaty policy, by those
governments which still desire to
maintain and consolidate European
security.
There is a more important question
that must be raised: For, in a Europe
in which the method of unilaterally
denouncing international engagements
became general, there would soon be
no room for any policy but one, force.
Security System Sought.
mo negotiation is possible if, while
conversations are proceeding, one of
the parties can arbitrarily possess
himself of that which was the subject
vi tIlC COlIFcI odIlOilS, luz Call lIleTe
be any negotiations of service If its
results, whatever they may be, Can be
destroyed at the will of one of the
contracting parties. That is equiv
alent to abolishing the whole idea of
international relations.
THE effort of pacific nations is
directed towards the establishment Of
comprehensive system of collective
security among states through the
conclusion of pacts of non-aggression,
consultations and mptual assistance.
rs it worthwhile to continue with
those efforts, if it is to be agreed
that the reputation of contractual
undertaking, however solemnly en-
tered into, involves no consequences
other than that of moral reprobation;
if country runs no risk of releasing
itself from its obligations, and If a
treaty breaking state is to be en-
couraged by impunity to commit fur
ther breaches?"
Without asking that the League
take any specific action against Ger
many, the memorandum expressed
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