PEACE APPEAL

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 9

PEACE APPEAL

A MOVE BY BELGIUM CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN BRUSSELS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BRUSSELS, August 21. (Received August 22, at 10 a.m.) A special Cabinet meeting decided to propose that the signatories of the Oslo convention—Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Luxemburg, Denmark, and Finland—jointly appeal for peace. King Leopold is inviting the seven Foreign Ministers to Brussels for a conference on August 23. An appeal will be addressed to the Great Powers urging them to do their utmost to avoid war, which would lead to untold sufferings among their own peoples, also to smaller nations not concerned in their quarrels. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have already agreed to attend the conference. FRENCH AND GERMAN COMMENT "BERLIN NOT MAKING ANY CONCESSIONS " LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 12.30 p.m.) While the echoes of rolling gun wheels and marching men permeate Central Europe, the reactions of King Leopold’s Oslo Powers’ conference are not yet fully audible. Comments range from the Wilhelmstrasse Spokesman’s remark that the conference will be successful “ if the participants talk sense to Poland and persuade her allies to return to the principles of the Lansing Note,” to the French inclination to coldshoulder any efforts directed to “ changing the name of Munich to Brussels. The Wilhelmstrasse adds: “ Germany is not making concessions.” BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO PRESIDE LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 1.5 p.m.) The ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ and ‘ Herald ’ leaders urge the recall of Parliament. The Belgian Foreign Minister, M. Pierlot, will preside at the Brussels conference, the aim of which will be co-ordination of the attitude of neutrals towards such problems, for instance, as the transportation of food supplies, the care of the wounded, and sheltering of refugees. The peace appeal is being drafted. King Leopold will not mediate. He is a supporter, not the inspirer, of the conference.