WINGS OF HOPE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 210, 3 June 1935, Page 9

WINGS OF HOPE

Progress With Proposed Air Locarno OUTLAWING BOMBS Speech By Sir John Simon Meets Approval (Britisli Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 31. Much of to-day's debate on national defence, raised in [lie House of Commons by the Liberal Party, was concerned witli the possibili ties of negotiating a Western Air Pact, and Sir John Simon. Foreign Secretary, who was the principal Government speaker, stated that progress was being made witli this project. The proposals,' he was glad to say, had now been received in a preliminary and tentative form from the German Government, and the French and Italian Governments had also put forward their ideas on the subject. The Btitish Government believed that the proposed Air Pact would necessitate an agreement regarding air strength, and also an understanding as to the levels of that air strength. An effort should also be made in the Pact to arrive at some agreement for'the outlawry of indiscriminate bombing. Limited Air Strength. It was ardently to be hoped, Sir John Simon continued, that these would result in a speedily-agreeil-upou limitation of air strength, and the British Government would do its utmost to attain such a result. Meanwhile the Brit isli Government would not be justified in suspending the recently-announced measures for increasing the air defences, but no one could suggest that these measures were in any way inimical to peace or would do the smallest injury to the negotiation of an Air Agreement. On the contrary, lie maintained that the measures taken would add to tlie prospects of reaching such nn agreement. Statesmen in Earnest. Sir John Simon, who recalled the original suggestion for a Western Air Pact made in the Anglo-French communique of February 3, mentioned that he had communicated with the French Foreign Minister, and, with M. Laval’s authority, he could state that an Air Pact was engaging the earnest attention of all the statesmen of the countries concerned. He hoped that they would soon find themselves in a situation when the suggestions made could be usefully exchanged by the most appropriate method. A great step would then have been taken, if the subject could be pursued to the point of negotiation without prejudice as to whether or not a more general settlement would be needed. Sir John’s statement received general approval from the speakers who followed. Mr. Anthony Eden, Lord Privy Seal, in winding up the debate, said it was tlie intention of the British Government to make the most of the contributions in Herr Hitler’s speech, and to see whether, building on that basis, they could with others, who shared the same anxiety and determination, eventually effect a sadly-needed improvement in European affairs. “NO INSINCERITY” But Every Nation For Own Defence HISTORY GIVES NO LEAD London, May 31. Sir Herbert Samuel, Leader of the Liberal Party, in introducing the Air debate in the House of Commons, said ho regretted that the discussion synchronised with the fall of the French Government, whose attitude toward the limitation of air armaments was most Important. "There is no insincerity,” he said, "While supporting the collective system I realise that the nation must take care of its own defence.” The . conquest of the air had introduced a new element for which history offered no guide. If another conflict ensued, swift seaplanes attacking merchantmen might be a more seriflus menace than submarines were in the last war. The Liberals therefore reluctantly recognised that the Government must increase air armaments, though every attempt should be made to limit them. . Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour, Bristol) said he hoped the Government would not hesitate to take the initiative in calling for nn international conference. It should nt first seek n standstill agreement, and, if that failed, hold up the vast capital expenditure on the Air Force for a specified time, instead of establishing an enormous force which might have to be scrapped.