BRITISH ARMS PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 119, 23 May 1933, Page 7

BRITISH ARMS PLAN

ME, DAVIS AT GENEVA OTHER UNDERTAKINGS (VI. BONCOUR NOT SATISFIED (British Official Wireless.) (Received May 23, .11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 22. The attitude of the United States towards the problems before the Disarmament Conference was revealed in a speech by the United States erivoy (Mr. Norman Davis) at a meeting of the General Committee, j of the Conference at Geneva. this afternoon. Features of the United States pronouncement were a whole-hearted acceptance of the British plan now before the Conference, an undertaking to consult with other nations if peace was threatened, a promise that if the United States concurred in the judgment of the Conference of States as to the aggressor, she would refrain from action tending to defeat measures that might be taken to restore peace; a willingness to participate ill disarmament super-1 vision, such control to be effective, automatic, and permanent; insistence on the territorial status quo and opposition to', rearmament. The British Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) welcomed the speech, which he described as most encouraging and hopeful, and expressed great satisfaction at the acceptance of" the draft convention. He urged, that work on a practical, basis should be pressed forward. The time had come to end theoretical declarations of good intentions, and to replace them with definite decisions. "It is now time to cash the cheques we have already drawn." M. Paul-Boncour (France), suggested that Part One of the convention, dealing with security, should forthwith be discussed, but Mr. Davis suggested that, in view of his declaration regarding the United States' action in case of conflict, lime need not be wasted on Part One. M. Boncour did not accept this view, and the meeting adjourned until tomorrow afternoon, the Bureau in the meantime meeting to fix the agenda. .