POLICY FORMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 7

POLICY FORMED.

PROBLEM OF ARMS.

BRITAIN DECIDES.

Issue More Important Than

League Reform.

SIR J. SIMON'S TOUR.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, January 29. Sir John Simon announced in the House of Commons that the British Government will shortly publish' a memorandum embodying its views on disarmament problems.

He had used his Continental holiday to renew contacts with M. Chautemps and M. Paul-Boncour, of France, and Signor Mussolini. These personal exchanges were of assistance in establishing points of agreement, and clarifying issues.

The Foreign Secretary continued: "His Majesty's Government has arrived at ft decision that the time has now come when it should make known its own attitude in the present situation, the gravity of which must be apparent to every thoughtful mind, and should thus make further positive contributions, so far as lies in its power, to promote

agreement. '■The Government has accordingly expressed its views in a memorandum, which has now been dispatched to its representatives abroad for communication to the Governments chiefly concerned in the recent negotiations. It is the intention of the Government to publish this memorandum as soon as there has been opportunity for its consideration by those Governments."

League Reform Seconflary. Sir John added that the British Government took the view that any questions connected with reform of the League of Nations were secondary to and successive upon the more immediate and urgent question of disarmament. As a result of his discussions on the subject with Signor Mussolini, he was glad to be able to state that this view hnd been confirmed by the Italian Government, and also approved by the French Government.

Signor Mussolini made it plain that the object of any proposals he might hereafter make would be to strengthen and make more efficient the machinery of the League.

While, therefore, the British Government had the situation under careful consideration pending the outcome of its efforts at present being undertaken to secure an agreed disarmament convention, it was not its intention to take any present steps in the matter.

CONCILIATORY VIEW.

APPRECIATED IN GERMANY,

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 29.

"The Times'' Berlin correspondent states that the British reply has gone far to reconcile Franco-German views on disarmament, particularly regarding the German acquisition of defensive weapons.

AMERICAN AIR FORCE

TO BUILD 1184 'PLANES

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, January 29.

The Naval Committee of the House of. Representatives voted to-day to give the President "blanket" authority to provide an aeroplane contingent for the Navy, commensurc with the Treaty limits, involving 11S4 new 'planes costing 93,000,000 dollars.