BERLIN TALKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 75, 29 March 1935, Page 7

BERLIN TALKS.

SCANTY INFORMATION. Little Common Ground Between Germany and Powers. EQUALITY AND ARMAMENTS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received li p.m.; RUGBY, March 28. Information is .scanty regarding the trend]of the Berlin conversations, but in Ministerial circles it is felt that they have at least -served a purpose of effecting "a complete clarification of the respective points of view," alike in regard to the Eastern European pact, a non-interference pact for Austria and the questions of disarmament and return to the League of Nations. The conversations revealed but little common ground between British and German views. The German objections to the Eastern Pact are already well known and understood, and remain unshaken. In regard to disarmament, while supporting a limitation in principle, and expressing willingness to renounce weapons, which other nations abolish by agreement, complete equality and Germany's full right to determine the needs of her own defences in relation to the armed forces of her neighbours, were, it is understood, insisted upon. It is also understood that concessions in various fields were outlined by HenHitler as indicating the conditions upon which a German return to the League of Nations might be effected. Sir John Simon was received in audience by the King at Buckingham Palace to-day. He spent three-quarters of an hour in the private apartments talking with His Majesty. It is understood he discussed with the King the conversations he had in Berlin. Foreign Secretary's Statement. Responding in the House of Commons to a request from Mr. George Lansbury, Labour Leader, for a statement on his Berlin visit, Sir John Simon said: "The House is aware that the visit to Berlin is one of a series of visits of exploration and inquiry now being paid on behalf of the British Government to various foreign capitals, and that when those visits are concluded they will be followed bv a meeting at Stresa, in North Italy, where I hope to meet Signor Mussolini and M. Laval. In these circumstances it is obviously undesirable to make a. full statement as to a position still under investigation. "Unauthorised speculations such as have appeared in some quarters should be disregarded. I may say, however, that in the course of two days' conversations with Heir Hitler, the European problem in relation to Germany was reviewed, and all topics mentioned in the London communique of February 3 brought under discussion: Considerable divergency "f opinion between the two Governments was revealed by the conversations, but the result of the meeting is undoubtedly valuable in that both sides are able clearly to understand -their respective points of view, ii process indispensable to ajiy furthei progress." * Asked if any of the conversations that had taken place or would take place within the next 10 or 11 days would alter the position of the Stresa Conference or if the conference had been definitely arranged between the three Powers. Sir John replied that the Stresa meeting was for three Powers, and he did not think it possible for him or anybody to speculate as to what would be the possible events after that.