WORLD EFFORT FOR PEACE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22072, 21 April 1937, Page 9

WORLD EFFORT FOR PEACE

HITLER REPORTED TO BE WILLING LABOUR M.P. PROPOSES CONFERENCE MR ROOSEVELT EXPECTED TO TAKE INITIATIVE (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received April 20, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. Proposals for a world peace conference, which have created the keenest interest throughout the Empire, were raised at a discussion in Berlin between Mr George. Lansbury, M.P., a former leader of the British Labour Party, and Herr Hitler. Mr Lansbury had a private talk with Herr Hitler in Berlin. After the meeting, which lasted two hours, he said Herr Hitler had stated that Germany was willing to participate in a conference on economic cooperation and mutual understanding if Mr Roosevelt dr the head of another great country would take the initiative. This statement was agreed upon between Herr Hitler and Mr Lansbury after a discussion on the entire international situation. Mr Lansbury submitted to Herr Hitler a memorandum proposing a new world conference, and told him the purport of his talks with Mr Roosevelt, M. Leon Blum, M. Paul van Zeeland, and the Scandinavian Prime Ministers, none of whom had rejected the proposition. “I got what I wanted from Herr Hitler,” said Mr Lansbury,. “namely, an assurance that Germany is willing to go into such a conference with a good heart. I was impressed by the fact that Herr Hitler knows what he is talking about. The question of Russian participation was not raised.” Foreign Reaction Awaited Although it was published elsewhere, no statement has yet appeared in the German press.* ,Apparently the reaction of foreign nations is being awaited. Mr Lansbury, broadcasting from Betlin to Britain to-night, said: “Mr Roosevelt’s name was specifically mentioned, because he was the first head of a Government with whom I discussed the conference. The United States is also the logical nation to take the lead, as she is ‘above this battle.’ I would like Mr Roosevelt to call the conference, but lam not sure that he will.” ; Mr Lansbury added that the more he saw and heard of the people of other lands the more convinced he became that all longed for peace. “Now,” he added, “we must redouble our efforts throughout the world to ensure a conference as early as possible.”