SOLEMN PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 7

SOLEMN PACT.

NATIONS MUST AGREE. Definite Non-Aggression Treaty Plan. FOUR STEPS TO PEACE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1 p.m.) HUG BY, May 10. The text of President Roosevelt's message became available in London late tins evening. Although the hour of its arrival precludes any official British comment to-night, no doubt can exist that the spirit of the statement will meet with the warmest approval, and that the proposals will be studied with a genuine desire to co-operate effectively in obtaining the fulfilment of the President's hope, "that peace may be assured through practical measures of disarmament, and that all of us may carry to victory our common struggle against economic chaos."

The President states that "the World Economic Conference must come to its conclusions quickly. Tlio world cannot await deliberations that are long delayed. The conference must establish order in place of the present chaos by stabilisation of currencies, by freeing tlie flow of world trade and by international action to raise price levels. It must, in short, supplement individual domestic programmes for economic recovery by wise, considered international action. Need for Disarmament. "As for the Disarmament Conference, confused purposes still clash dangerously, and duty lies in bringing practical results through concerted action. I believe an overwhelming majority of people feel obliged to retain excessive armaments because they fear some\Pct of aggression against them and not' because they themselves seek to be the aggressors. "There is justification for this fear. Modern weapons of offence are vastly stronger than modern weapons of defence. If all nations agree wholly to eliminate weapons which make possible successful attack, defences automatically will become impregnable, and frontiers -and the independence of every nation will become secure. The ultimate objective of the Disarmament Conference must be the complete elimination of all offensive weapons. The immediate objective is a substantial reduction of some of these weapons, and the elimination of .many others." Mac Donald Plan Supported. The United States - Government welcomes measures now proposed and will exert an influence towards further successive steps in disarmament. "There are three steps to be agreed upon in the present discussions. The first is to take at once the first definite step as broadly outlined in the Mac Donald plan. The second is to agree upon the time and procedure for taking the following steps, and tlie third is to agree that, while the first and following steps are being taken no nation shall increase the existing armaments beyond limitations of treaty obligations. "But the peace of the world must be assured during the whole period of disarmament. I theifcforc propose a fourth step, concurrent with the fulfilment of these three proposals, and subject to the existing treaty rights, that all nations in the world enter a solemn, definite pact of non-aggression, that they will solemnly reaffirm the obligations they have assured to the limit, and reduce armaments, and, provided these obligations are faithfully executed, that they will agree that they send no armed force across their frontiers."

The President urges all nations to translate their professed policies into action.

ITALY ELECTRIFIED.

PESSIMISM DISPELLED. (Received 1.30 p.m.) GENEVA, May 10. Mr. Arthur Henderson, president of the Disarmament Conference, welcomes President Koosevclt's appeal. He thinks the general response should readily lead to a disarmament convention.

The Roosevelt appeal electrified Italy, where pessimism was widespread, because it throws a lifeline to the conference, which it will now be difficult for any country to take the responsibility of wrecking. It will not be Italy's fault if the conference fails.