VALUABLE TALKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 7

VALUABLE TALKS.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Exploring Economic Questions Prior to World Parley.

NEXT WAR DEBT PAYMENT.

United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

NEW YORK, March 28.

The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says the conversations between the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, and the British Ambassador, Sir Ronald Lindsay, were continued yesterday in circumstances which indicate that London has deferred to the wishes of Washington and now is prepared to explore economic questions on the basis of the agenda of the proposed World Monetary and Economic Conference.

After the discussions at -which British and American economists -were present, a joint statement was.issued.

This stated: "We have continued our preliminary and tentative discussions on the world economic situation and confined them to those topics contained in the agenda recently prepared by the preliminary committee at Geneva. We feel gratified at the value of these talks which have made clear the views of the officials of the two countries. We expect 'to continue the discussions."

There was no mention of war debts, but there is no indication that Britain has relinquished her hopes of an adjustment.

It is understood that the British Government is greatly concerned over the approach of June 15, when payment of 75,000,000 dollars is due. At the appropriate time it will advance a plan embodying the Lausanne agreements and the Balfour Note, both of which would imply a desire for a great reduction if not cancellation of the debt.

According to informed opinion in Washington the British action in deferring to America's insistence upon exploring economic questions is due to the realisation that the lattc: country would hesitate to readjust war debts without determining the possibility of mutually advantageous agreements and other questions which the Roosevelt Administration views as of great importance.

EXPORT OF ARMS.

Roosevelt Given Power to

Impose Embargo.

COMMITTEE DECISION,

(Received 10 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, March 28.

The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to-day approved the Administration's proposal to empower President Roosevelt to place embargoes on tho shipment of arms and munitions to foreign countries at conflict.