REDUCING ARMS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 26 April 1924, Page 5

REDUCING ARMS

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE’S SPEECH BRITISH MINISTRY’S ATTITUDE By Telegraph—Press Associative, —COPYRIGHT. (Reo. April 25, 11.5 p.m.) London, April 25. Increasing attention is being given to President Coolidge’s speech, with which iffie “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent understands Mr. MacDonald is dealing in an important speech during the week-end. The correspondent points out that the speech strengthens Mr. MacDonald in his previous resolve not to be drawn at present into discussion of the war debts. It is felt that there is no good case for a compromise transaction before the Dawes scheme is actually operating. Regarding armaments, Mr. MacDonald’s Ministry is among the strongest supporters of the League of Nations, but it far too earnestly desires a reduction of armaments not to facilitate matters through an alternative agency if thereby _ America could be induced to participate, or better still, to give the world a lead. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CRITICAL DISCUSSION IN EUROPE NEW ALLIANCES PLANNED (Rec. April 26, 0.20 a.m.) London, April 25. The “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent says that while the European Ureas critically discusses President Coolidge’s disarmament suggestion, European diplomacy is planning new alliances and groupings. The correspondent proceeds to review the Franco-Czecho Treaty, the FrancoRumanian negotiations, the proposed Czecho-Italian and Turco-Rumanian alliances, and the Italo-Russian conversations, and concludes: “It is too early to foresee what will be the new State groupings of Europe, bitt what is plainly visible is that the old diplomacy is busy all over Europe, as if there had never been war, and as if there were no League of Nations. This is the explanation of the cynicism with which President Coolidge’s suggestion has been greeted.” The “Daily Express” says the motive power of disarmament must come from America, but if the world can be saved from further disaster it must come with the force of united public ojpinion behind it, irrespective of parties. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.