Evening star., 1935-02-16
Question of Peaceful or
ForcefuI Methods Is Put
Up to Reich.
MACDONALD AND SIMON
CONCEIVED AGREEMENTS
Desired to Fortify Britain's Posi-.
tion by Reviving Prosperity
Through Confidence.
Copyright, 1895, by the Associated PressJ

Copyright, 1895. by the Associated PressJ
LONDON, February l6-Restora-
ton of confidence-by peaceful or
forceful methods-in order to restore
prosperity was revealed today as the
single purpose Of the Anglo-French-
Italian accordS.
Now the focus Of European diplo-
macy, the accords were originally
conceived by Prime Minister j. RAM
say Macdonald and Foreign Secre-
tary Sir John Simon.
They had one single all-important
purpose for planning these pacts-to
bring about a revival Of economic
prosperity in order to make Great
Britain's traditional position in world
affairs secure once more. by resto-
ration of confidence on the Cont
nent.
Road Depends on Reich.
II Germany enters the scheme In
a cooperative manner. the conf
dence-restoring plan will take the
peaceful road. If Germany chooses
to keep aloof Britain, France and
Italy will form powerful combina-
ton of armed forces to assure peace
until normal trade makes the police
mans club unnecessary.
This Is the authoritative explana-
ton of the new Euorpear security
system now being pushed in the many
capitals of Europe.
1t was first revealed December 29
that such system Of pacts was con-
templated. They were just an idea
then; now the full story has been un-
covered
Late in 1882 Macdonald first con-
ceived the fve-power declaration
which was eventually adopted, grant
ing to Germany sort of equality in
principle. This declaration was am
biguously interpreted in various capt.
tails and so never became the effective
instrument Of peace that Macdonald
hoped it would be.
Series Of LuncheonS Held.
The prime minister had q series OF
confidential and private luncheons
last November, some of them with
foreign diplomats whose opinions he
wanted. He told them he had in
mind proposing some new security
scheme on the continent, and that he
hoped it would be ready by the time
the Saar plebiscite was over.
Macdonald and Simon went over
the entire ground, and from then on
Simon became more or less the leader
of the scheme.
Both were faced with a difficult sit
uation. For political reasons at home
they could not publicly announce that
Britain wanted to bind itself nearer
to the Continent. An election is
coming and a fight on the question
before election was not wanted.
They also faced the problem of get
ting full French and Italian CO.
operation. An abrupt British plan
would not win those countries over
the British felt. and so 1t was made
to appear that France and Italy would
start the ball rolling, with Britain at
first a semi-silent partner.
No Opposition to Accords.
No particular opposition developed
here during the Rome meetings of
France and Italy because, Of course,
the goal could not be known. When
it gradually appeared that Britain
was to come into the picture, Mac
Donald and Simon had their fences
built.
They could and did point out that
everything was being pushed over the
auspices Of two already accepted
peace instruments, the League Of
Nations and the Locarno pact.
The British government hopes that
the peaceful method will win out,
hopes that Germany will become an
equal partner.
But Britain Is we'll prepared. Ever
since Stanley Baldwin, lord president
Of the council, made it clear in vari-
GUS statements last Summer that this
country is aware of German armed
forces and German force in the air,
and would protect herself accordingly,
there has been a steady drive to make
the safety of Britain more secure.
The Eastern security pact, which IS
a Russian pact, is approved, but there
is not any great enthusiasm here
Britain wants Russia to come into the
general scheme of things through
that Eastern pact. but asks no more
Of Russia than that.