JARRING NOTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 7

JARRING NOTE.

FRENCH COMMENTS. Gratuitous Threat Seen in Peace Message. KING TO REPLY DIRECT. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON", May 17. King George personally received President Roosevelt's peace message and will reply direct. A dispatch from Riga states that the Soviet lias decided immediately to reply to President Roosevelt, emphasising that she has persistently pursued the policy of peace despite endless aggravation, and is willing to join in a general limitation of armaments and sign an international pact of non-aggression provided Russia's political, economic and juridical sovereignty is fully recognised. A Paris message states that Mr. Roosevelt's oniission of America's cooperation in the guarantees of peace dominates French comments. The Right organs express the opinion that it would have been better to have allowed Herr Hitler to rattle his sabre and leave the world 110 doubt as to Germany's designs. President Roosevelt's allusion to responsibility for failure is regarded, in oflicial circles, as a gratuitous threat to France if she refused to see eye to eye with Britain and America. A Foreign Office spokesman indicates that France is ready to accept the major provisions of Mr. Mac Donald's plan.

Highly Dramatic Effect. The message is the outstanding topic in every European capital. The fact that it was dispatched to 54 nations of the world had a highly dramatic effect, especially in association with the intense anxiety as to Herr Hitler's speech in the Reichstag to-day, which the message manifestly was intended to forestall. Favourable replies to the Roosevelt plea for world peace have been received at the White House from 10 nations, including Britain. "The Times" characterises Mr. Roosevelt's appeal as the most stirring the nations of the world have yet heard for concerted political and economic action. Mr. Mac Donald has again clarified Britain's position by his wholehearted response to Mr. Roosevelt's proposals, but a reply cannot be expected so quickly from the countries nearer the Continental political upheavals, which believe that armed force is the only prevention of, or cure for, certain national frenzies. It is important, says "The Times," that Mr. Roosevelt should have restated America's readiness to participate in a consultative pact. America, by abstaining from neutrality in international conflict, would enormously facilitate the work of the countries who are ready to penalise illegal resort to force.

The "Daily Herald" says Mr. Roosevelt's message is an appeal to the common sense of the world, whose nerves have been jangled by recent events and by the suspicions and fears arousecL In such moods statesmen may commit irreparable follies. Mr. Roosevelt's suggestion of a new pledge of non-aggression may help to allay these fears. AMERICAN OPINION. CONCILIATORY TONE. (Received 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON", May 17. The State Department officials today described Herr Hitler's speech as encouragingly conciliatory.