BETTER SPIRIT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 15, 12 October 1933, Page 9

BETTER SPIRIT

Disarmament Problem

GERMANY & FRANCE

An Important Development

BONCOUR MEETS NADOLNY

(Received October 11, 11.30 p.m.)

Geneva, October 11. An important development in the disarmament discussions occurred today when Herr Nadolny, the German delegate, visited M. Paul Boncour (France) and conferred in a conciliatory spirit. The conversation lasted 90 minutes.

Herr Nadolny explained his Government’s sincere desire to settle the problem, but contended that there should be a freely accepted convention which Germany would be enabled to carry out. He added that France and Germans’ already had agreed on a number of points, and expressed the opinion that the others were surmountable. He reiterated Germany’s desire to reach a convention.

M. Boncour was unable to concur in all Herr Nadolny’s references to the point of agreement, but emphasised that his Government could not make any concessions in regard to fundamentals, as undertakings with French public opinion could not be disregarded. Otherwise France would not be unreasonable. M. Boncour also referred to Mr. Baldwin’s speech on October 6, especially the references to Locarno, which it was emphasised the British Government had endorsed.

TIME FOR DECISIONS

“Certain Hopeful Elements”

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, October 10. Sir John Simon will resume his part in the disarmament discussion at Geneva toward the end of the week. He left Croydon by air for Paris this afternoon, and is proceeding on to Geneva by to-night’s train. Before leaving London he received the German Ambassador (Dr. von Hoesch). Sir John Simon had originally intended to proceed to Geneva last weekend, but delayed his departure to be present at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, when the latest developments in the disarmament situation, including the German “observations,” communicated last week, were considered. It is recognised that, although there are certain hopeful elements in the situation, the matter is rapidly approaching a point at which further delays cannot be accepted. Important political decisions must be made. Meanwhile, the Commission of the Disarmament Conference will meet on Monday, but doubt is felt here as to whether progress can be made by proceeding with the discussion of the British draft article. It is understood that the British Government accepts the view that a preliminary period of armaments supervision is desirable and might result in securing the promise of substantial disarmament on the part of France, if the German attitude were satisfactory. But the length of such a period, it is felt, might well be a matter for negotiation. The British Government’s general attitude toward the whole question was fully defined by Mr. Baldwin at Birmingham on Friday night in consultation with his leading colleagues of Cabinet.