DISARMAMENT FAILURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 5

DISARMAMENT FAILURE

LONG & HEATED DEBATE NO COMPROMISE REACHED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.! (Recd. June 5, 1 p.m.) GENEVA, June 4. After four hours violent controversy behind closed doors, in which no progress was made, the Conference Bureau adjourned until to-morrow. Hope of a compromise failed at the last moment, after M. Litvinoff had urged the appointment of a Drafting Committee, in order to submit a resolution in favour of a constitution conference of peace, ’ with a view to working towards the establishment of a convention of the limitation or reducing of armaments, the creation of

fresh guarantees of security and other means for preventing armed conflicts. Also a consultation in the event of violation of peace treaties. This means that Russia, France, the Balkans, and Little Entente will strongly contest the British desire for a long adjournment, with a view to bringing back Germany. A confused discussion followed in the course of which opinions were so divergent that the idea of appointing a Drafting Committee was abandoned in favour of continuing the discussion to-morrow. LONDON, June 4. The “News-Chronicle’s” Geneva correspondent says: To-day’s proceedings merely ruffled tempers. The ideas are now so divergent, that an agreement seems impossible.

RUSSIAN SCHEME OPPOSED. LONDON, June 4. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: Sir John Simon will report on the Geneva situation at to-day’s Cabinet meeting. At the same time the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference will re-assemble at Geneva, to try to reconcile the various conflicting proposals. The task will not be easy. London regards M. Litvinoff’s plan, not merely as impossible of acceptance, but as more likely to lead to insecurity than to European security. It is an attempt to create a strong one-sided coalition, which would force other Powers to come in at the sacrifice of their political claims, or convictions or be ostensibly branded as would-be aggressors. The British opinion considers such a scheme bound to breed a countercoalition, and an ultimate division of Europe into two rival armed camps, which would be deplorable.

FRENCH DEFENCES. [times cables.] PARIS, June 3. The Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies recommends the completion of the defences on the frontiers of France, with the view of economising in the number of effectives in the Army in war time. It recommends that this be accompanied by an investigation of the expenditure that already has occurred, it exceeding the estimates by sixty-five per cent. The experts point out that this increase has been due to a rise in wages and in the cost of material. While the original calculations were too low, recent events have entailed amplifications of the original plan. M. Denain, Air Minister, has disclosed an expenditure of twelve and three-quarter millions sterling for the year 1934-35 on the production of machines and munitions, also on armament. research, and on the reorganisation of the Air Ministry and air staff. He added that the organisation included provision for an offensive

against enemies at vital centres. France was obliged to increase her air force because, while the British aviation was still being directed to defence, the aviation of other Powers was giving an offensive turn to armaments.

GERMAN AERIAL DISPLAY. BERLIN. June 4. The German “Air Week" has been completed. Its climax took the form of eight balloons, majestically soaring in the summer sky, followed by ten thousand pigeons, and by twenty thousand toy balloons that were cast up by the Hitler Youth, until the air was filled with blue, white and crimson bubbles, and also by the whirr of aeroplanes, flying in formation above tens of thousands of spectators, who were craning their necks until the Temple Hofen Field was a parterre of uplifted faces. For the Air Week the slogan was: “The German Nation is a Nation of Flyers.” The airmen yesterday night marched six thousand strong to dancing torchlights, blaring trumpets, and rolling drums in the Unter Den Linden, through the Brandenburger Gate. General Goering to-day inspected the soldiery. There were one thousand air battalions.

Lorry after lorry brought excited children to the Reichstag Platz, whence they marched to the Temple Hofen Field airily attired in singlets, shorts and shoes, resembling a grand parade of ballet dancers. Chief Commodore Loerzer preached an air crusade on General Goering’s text, urging the nation to become air conscious. He praised the activities of the Flyers’ Association, uniting all of the sports clubs, with a total membership of tens of thousands, who were, he said, dependent entirely on voluntary contributions, because the Versailles Treaty forbade State aid for them.

NAVAL CONVERSATI(.)NS. RUGBY, June 4. Press messages from Washington state that the preliminary bilateral naval conversations will begin in London. about the middle of June. Mr Norman Davis, who is at present in Geneva, is expected in London about that date. The discussions will deal with procedure and technical questions preparatory to the Naval Conference to be held next year. Japan has also agreed to the British proposal that such discussions should take place, but no reply lias yet been received in London from the French and Italian Governments.