DISARMAMENT EFFORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1932, Page 7

DISARMAMENT EFFORTS

ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT

GERMANY’S NEW OBJECTION

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, October 14. M. Herriot visited Downing Street, where the conversations on disarmament questions were resumed. It is emphasised by the newspapers that the present exchange of views is designed solely to remove obstacles in the way of the Disarmament Conference. ■ , v . ’: A communique, issued from Downing Street, states: Conversations took place between Mr. MacDonald, M. Herriot and Sir J. Simon, on the subject of*,the British proposal for a meeting, in which they would participate, with Italy and Germany, in order to oyer come the difficulty which has arisen at Geneva.

• The French and British Ministers agreed in considering that the meeting should consist of the four Powers named, and that the best place for such a meeting would be Geneva. The British Government sought the concurrence of the two other Governments Concerned in this proposal. This meeting would have an unofficial: and preliminary character. Its object will be to seek and propose means by. which the common work of the Disarmament Conference within the League of Nations might be effectively resumed. When the Italian and German Governments were consulting on the -suggestion that the four Power meeting should take place at Geneva, the Italian Government at once agreed. Disappointment and surprise was 'felt at Germany’s unwillingness to accept'the proposal. The actual place of meeting was of minor importance, and it is hoped that Germany’s present unwillingness to accept Geneva will be overcome. It is understood that the Ministers are well satisfied with the exchange of views, which revealed a mutual and very genuine desire to surmount the impediments existing in the way of real effective progress with the disarmament problem. Before leaving for Paris, M. Herriot, in an interivew, said the conversations were carried on very pleasantly. “We discussed things with frankness, and came to the conclusions in perfect loyalty to each other. I think I can say all is well.”