BRITISH LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 21722, 17 May 1934, Page 9

BRITISH LABOUR

INTEREST IN DISARMAMENT VIEWS PLACED BEFORE MINISTERS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright HUGBY, May 15. The Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) and tho Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) received a joint deputation from the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party, which presented a resolution on disarmament and the work of the League representing the considered views of the National Joint Council of the British Labour movement. Among other points the resolution urged the Government to take all possible steps to bring So viet Russia and tho United States into closer association with the League upon the basis of the Pact of Paris. It was stated that the National Joint Council would warmly welcome an indication that Soviet Russia was willing to become a member of the League, and considered that the foundations of peace would thereby be strengthened. The resolution appealed to the British Government to extend an ■invitation of this kind to Russia, and also urged the Government to make a supreme effort to bring the Disarmament Conference to a successful conclusion. In speeches supporting the resolution members of the delegation said they had no faith in a policy of defensive alliances and regarded the League, imperfect as it.might be, as the only practical instrument for maintaining peace and stability. The Prime Minister said that in the last two years the British Government had used all its influence to obtain a disarmament convention. It had put forward a practicable plan and even inserted actual figures and levels. Even after the despatch of a special mission to the capitals chiefly concerned no agreement had yet been reached. Nothing could be done without agreement. The present position of the‘Disarmament Conference was a great disappointment to him. The British Government had taken a risk in setting an example in disarmament, which had unhappily not been followed, and had held back programmes of expenditure in the hope of reaching an international convention. Meanwhile.it would continue to use every effort in the cause of international peace. Sir John Simon said he welcomes) the putting forward of definite suggestions. Despite the difficulties involved, the Government took every opportunity of close contact and co-operation with the United States, but it must be borne in mind that the United States Government stood in a very special position, both politically and constitutionally. As regards Soviet Russia, it had been the practice that Governments wishing * to join -the League should themselves make application. The Soviet Government had not so applied, but it knew that if it did so it would be welcomed by the British Government.

THE COUNCIL MEETING BRITAIN’S CHIEF DELEGATE. RUGBY, May 15. Captain R. A. Eden will be chief representative of the British Government throughout the present meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva. Sir John Simon had planned to fly to Geneva after to-mor-row’s Cabinet meeting, but in view of Friday s debate in the House of Commons on foreign affairs, he was obliged to alter his arrangements.