NO REARMAMENT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 16, 13 October 1933, Page 9

NO REARMAMENT

Powers and Germany

FULL AGREEMENT

Britain, France, America

CRITICAL PHASE REACHED

(British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, October 11

Conversations on the disarmament question were continued at Geneva to-day, and this afternoon the leading British, French, and. United States delegates had a meeting lasting for about an hour.

According to Geneva Press messages it was stated at the conclusion that a complete agreement had been reached that rearming by Germany during the preliminary period to be provided for by the proposed disarmament convention would not be countenanced. M. Paul Boncour is returning to Paris to-night to report to his Government.

Sir John Simon reached Geneva this morning, and was visited shortly after his arrival by M. Paul Boncour, French Foreign Minister. It is understood that Sir John Simon acquainted him with the decisions regarding the British attitude toward the disarmament situation reached at Monday’s Cabinet meeting, and that a very full measure of agreement exists in regard to the future procedure between the two Governments.

Yesterday conversations took place between M. Paul Boncour and the German delegate, Herr Nadolny, while Captain Anthony Eden and Mr. Norman Davis, the British and American delegates, remained in constant contact. According to the ‘‘Morning Post” correspondent, “now or never” is the dominant tone in Geneva disarmament circles, all delegations being agreed that the most critical phase of the Conference has been reached. The British and Americans in particular, he says, emphasise the absolute necessity of arriving at a convention signed by all the participating States. The recent speech by Mr. Baldwin, emphasising the grave dangers of failure to do so and Britain’s determination to fulfil all pledges, made a great impression on all delegates. PROBATIONARY PERIOD \ Sir John Simon’s View (Received October 12, 9.40 p.m.) - z London, October 12. The French correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” at Geneva says that Sir John Simon thinks a two-year probationary period is sufficient. GERMAN PEACE PETITION Request for Return Refused Geneva, October 11. Mr. Arthur Henderson, chairman of the Disarmament Conference, flatly refused to hand over to the German delegation the peace petition signed by thousands of Germans in 1932. Dr. Goebbels recently anxiously inquired as to the possibility of return, suggesting the contemplated punishment of the signatories. 1935 NAVAL CONFERENCE What Failure Would Mean to Japan x (Received October 12, 7 p.m.) Tokio, October 11. Mr. Wakatsuki declared that the failure of the Naval Conference in 1935 would precipitate a new JapaneseAmerican armament race, which would be disastrous to Japan.