BRITAIN APPRECIATIVE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 9

BRITAIN APPRECIATIVE

Disarmament Proposal THE HOOVER PLAN Secretary of State’s Thanks SIR JOHN SIMON’S REPLY (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. June 26,-7.30 p.m.) London, June 25. Sir. 11. L. Stimson, the United States Secretary of State, has sent the following message to Sir John Simon, the British Foreign Minister: “I earnestly thank you for the sympathetic discussion on President Hoover’s proposals, and trust our two delegations working jointly will be able to contribute to the fulfilment. Sir John Simon replied that he reciprocated the wish for continued cooperation. Only the co-operation of all States could life the burden of excessive armaments. Britain deeply appreciates the spirit and purpose of Mr. Hoover’s declaration and will do her utmost to promote the acceptance of concrete proposals covering, the whole field of disarmament by seeking the largest measure of agreement by all the States represented at Geneva. BRITISH CONSIDERATION Official Wireless. Rugby, June 24. The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, attended a meeting at the House of Commons, when it is understood President Hoover’s disarmament proposals were under consideration. On his return to Geneva, Sir John Simon will enter upon consultations with the French and United States delegates. The French War Minister, M. Paul Boncour, is at present in Paris consulting with his colleagues, but the Ministers will return to Geneva during the week, and th'e conference will take place on Monday. “POSSIBLE COALITIONS’’ French Premier’s Comments (Rec. June 26, 7.30 p.m.). Paris, June 25. The Premier,' M. Herriot, received journalists after a Cabinet meeting. He declared that France owed the greatest consideration to everything coming from President Hoover. “I read and re-read his message, and I wonder whether it takes into account possible coalitions. The dominating idea of Lausanne is that a European settlement is impossible without a universal agreement.” GENTLEMEN’S AGREEMENT Stimson’s, Categorical Denial (Rec. June 26, 5.5 p.m.). Washington, June 25. Mr. H. L. Stimson, United States Secretary of State, in a sharp statement, denied reports from Europe regarding American representatives participating in debts discussions. “I catagorically deny newspaper reports from London that the United States and Great Britain had reached an unwritten ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ that they will follow the same disarmament policy • and that reparation payments must cease.” he said. Paris, June 25. The British Embassy at Paris denies that Sir John Simon and Mr. Andrew Mellon have reached a “gentlemen’s agreement” on the Anglo-Ame-rican attitude toward reparations and disarmament. FIRST STAGE ENDED Conference at Lausanne A FRIENDLY SPIRIT (Rec. June 26, 7.30 p.m.). Lausanne, June 26. The first stage of the conference ended with the departure of Dr. von Papen to Berlin and M. Herriot to Paris. The. second stage will open on their return early next week. It is expected the conference will last until July 9, just in time to permit the British delegates to leave for Ottawa. From all accounts the Franco-Ger-man discussions were conducted in a friendly spirit. Dr. von Papen drew a sombre picture of the state of affairs in Germany. When M. Herriot referred to the railway assets Dr. von Papen replied that the income from the State railways hardly covered expenses. Official Wireless. Rugby, June 24.

Conversations at Lausanne between the French Prime Minister, M. Herriot, and the German Chancellor, Dr. von Papen, for which the ground had been prepared by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s negotiations yesterday with M. Herriot, began as arranged this morning. The two statesmen were alone during the early part of the interview, and later the conversations were continued with their Ministerial colleagues and experts in attendance. A communique stated that after the German Finance Minister, Herr Krosigk, had presented a detailed statement of the economic and financial position of Germany the meeting adjourned. The conversations were resumed this evening. FRANCE’S RIGHTS Von Papen’s Recognition (Rec. June 26, 1.30 p.m.) Paris, June 25. Von Papen, interviewed by the "Matin,” said he recognised that in the event of a liquidation of reparations, France had a right to compensation. A HUGE DEFICIT Reich’s Account for 1931 Berlin, June 24. The Reich’s accounts for 1031 show a deficit of 843 millions sterling, double that of 1930. The prospects for 1932 are gloomy.