ARMS TALKS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 91, 11 January 1935, Page 9

ARMS TALKS

British Cabinet and Geneva Meeting FAVOURABLE OUTLOOK Negotiations May Extend For Several Months GERMANY AND FRANCE ✓ By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received January 10, 7.45 p.m.) London, January 10. Cabinet discussed foreign affairs for three hours. The "Daily Telegraph’s" diplomatic correspondent says that Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, reviewed developments. Cabinet is well satisfied with the outcome of the Rome negotiations, and considered a basis on which new disarmament discussions may lie opened informally at Geneva at the week-end. Ministers noted the fact that M. Flandin’s ministry in France apparently is prepared to approach the subject in a more realistic manner than its - predecessors, but admitted that it may be difficult to secure German acceptance of the minimum strength with which she would have been satisfied a year ago. It is anticipated that negotiations will extend for several months, but the atmosphere is more favourable than at any time in three years. The “Daily Herald” says that M. Laval, French Foreign Minister, is preparing on behalf of the powers to offer to legalise Germany’s rearmament with limitations, subject to her return to Geneva and her joining both the Eastern, Europe and Danube pacts. (Note on Page 7.) OLD ORDER CHANGETH Britain’s Foreign Policy LAW INSTEAD OF FORCE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 9. Reference was made to the FrancoItalian agreement by Mr. Anthony Eden, Lord Privy Seal, in a speech at Edinburgh last night. He said tnat the agreement constituted an important contribution to European stability. He believed it would result in a marked improvement in the whole outlook for Europe. It was a good start for the New Year in which much work remained to be done. An almost imperceptible change was taking place and a new order in the world was being evolved. In years gone by Britain’s foreign policy was often criticised abroad as being exclusively concerned with the balance of power. If Britain’s policy were the policy of the balance of power, it was only because it seemed to her statesmen at that time the best and, indeed, \ the only means of ensuring peace. Now the balance of power was no longer the basis of Britain’s foreign policy. It was now based oq. the I,eague of Nations and on the policy of a collective peace system. There was in truth an immense change in the outlook. The balance of power meant the maintenance of peace by the adjustment of force. A coilee-

five peace system meant the abolition of force and substitution of the authority of law. That was the immense change which was now taking place in ■ foreign affairs. That change was not yet universally effective, but British policy was to make it so, and in that work lay the significance of their task which in importance had scarcely been paralleled in British history. It could not be realised in a day. There had been setbacks and there would be others, but gradually progress was being recorded. Last year saw a real ad- , vance, and he was hopeful that 1935 would see a still further step, perhaps a decisive step, to a new order which would bring peace to i>eople for all time.

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