PEACE HOPES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 188, 8 May 1934, Page 9

PEACE HOPES

Situation Changing in Europe BRITAIN’S NEW PLAN French Fears of Germany on the Wane RUSSO-POLISH TREATY By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received May 7, 10.15 p.m.) London, May 7. The "Daily Telegraph” says that Cabinet on Tuesday will discuss the policy which will be advocated at Geneva when the Disarmament Conference reassembles on May 29. The Ministerial Committee has concentrated attention on a new .draft plan designed to extend existing European security guarantees in the hope that British participation will induce highly-armed States to agree to limitation of armaments. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald is favourable, but the majority of Ministers is unsympathetic and urges that the House of Commons will never assent. Mr. MacDonald himself is impressed by the adverse comments of the Dominions on such a proposal. Meanwhile the French attitude is changing. As a result of inquiries the Fernch General Staff now believes the French defences are superior to any potential German, attach. Moreover, Germany’s econimic plight is so grave that the time when she will be strong enough to attach France is somewhat remote. Intis France is confident of her ability to look after herself. In these circumstances Cabinet circles are of the opinion that, the British role at Geneva must be more passive. The “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent says that the nou-aggtes-sion pact just signed in Moscow between Russia and Poland prolonging the present pact until 1945 gives the Soviet additional security In the west and so makes Japanese aggression more risky. Thus it is a big step in the consolidation of peace in eastern Europe. The new pact dispels rumours that the German-Polish non-ag-gression agreement had a secret undertaking behind it for an eventual attack upon the Soviet Union.