SECURITY BASIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 7

SECURITY BASIS.

ATTACK BY AIR.

COMPLETE ACCORD.

Co-operation to Remove

War's Menace.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 3. The conversations between the British and French Ministers were concluded last evening. It was nearly midnight bcforo i the talks ended, but complete agreement on all essential matters had been reached when the Ministers separated. A communique in the following terms was issued: —"The object of the meeting between the British and French Ministers, which has been taking place in London, was to promote the peace of the world by closer co-operation in the spirit of the most friendly confidence, and to remove those tendencies which, if unchecked, are calculated to lead to a race in armaments and an increase of the dangers of war. "With this object in view, the British and French Ministers proceeded to an examination of the general situation. They took note of the particularly important part played"by the League of Nations in recent settlements of certain international problems, and welcomed the successful results as evidence of the conciliatory spirit of all Governments taking part ill those settlements. They declare their determination to pursue, both as regards the problems of their own countries and of the League, policies guided by the same methods of conciliation and co-operation. Franco-Italian Agreements. "With reference to tiie Franco Italian agreements recently reached at Rome, the British Ministers, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, cordially welcomed the declaration by which the French and Italian Governments asserted their intention to develop the traditional friendship which unites those two nations, and associated His Majesty's Government with the intention of the French and Italian Governments to collaborate in a spirit of mutual trust in the maintenance of general peace. "The British Ministers expressed the congratulations of their Government at the conclusion of the Rome agreement regarding Central Europe, and made it clear that, as a consequence of the declarations made by the British in conjunction with tlie French and Italian Governments on February 17 and September 27 last, His Majesty's Government will consider itself to be among the Powcrrf which will, as provided in the Rome agreements, consult together if the independence and integrity of Austria are menaeed. German Co-operation Hoped For. "The British and French Ministers hope that the encouraging progress chus achieved may now be continued by m»ans of the direct and effective co-operation of Germany. They are agreed that neither Germany nor any other Power whose armaments have been defined by peace treaties is entitled, by unilateral action, to modify these obligations, but they are further agreed that nothing would contribute more to the restoration of confidence and the prospects of peace among the nations than a general settlement, freely negotiated between Germany and the other Powers.

"This general settlement would males provision for the organisation of security in Europe, particularly by means of- the conclusion of pacts freely negotiated between all the interested parties, and ensuring mutual assistant, in Eastern Europe and the system fore-i-hadoued in the lionie process verbal for Central Europe simultaneously, and in conformity with the terms of the declaration of December 11, 1932, regarding equality of rights in a system of eecuritv.

"This settlement would Establish agreements regarding , armaments generally, which, in the caee of Germany, would replace the provisions of part i> of the Treaty of Versailles, at present limiting the arms and armed forces of Germany. Return to League Essential. "It would also be part of the general settlement that Germany should resume her place in the League of Nations with a view to active membership. The French and British Governments trust that other Governments concerned may share these views. "In the course of these meetings the British and French Ministers have been impressed by the special , dangtrs to peace created by modern developments in the air, the misuse of which might lead to sudden aerial aggression by one country upon another, and hae given consideration to the possibility of provision being made against these dangers oy a reciprocal regional agreement between certain Powers "It is suggested that the signatories would undertake immediately to' give the assistance of their air forces to Whichever of them might be the victim of unprovoked aerial aggression by one of the contracting- parties.

"The British and French Ministers, on behalf of their respective Governments, found themselves in agreement that a mutual arrangement of this kind for Western Europe would go far to operate as a deterrent to aggression, and to ensure immunity from sudden attacks from the air, and they resolved to invite Italy, Germany and Belgium to consider with them whether such convention might not lie promptly negotiated. They earnestly desire that all countries concerned should appreciate that the object of this proposal- is to reinforce peace, the sole aim pursued by the two Governments.

"The Governments of France and Britain declare themselves ready to resume consultations without delay after having received the replies of the other interested Powers."