PEACE IN EUROPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 September 1934, Page 5

PEACE IN EUROPE

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY’S MEETING THE NEW PRESIDENT [official wireless.] RUGBY, September 10. Sir John Simon, who is the head of the British delegation to the League of Nations Assembly, is one of twenty-three foreign Ministers of various countries taking part in the meeting. M. Sandler (Sweden) was elected President by 49 votes to three. The Canadian Prime Minister (Mr. Bennett) was elected President of the League Assembly’s Economic Commission. Owing to the lack of progress in disarmament, M. Sandler proposed the postponement until the next Assembly of the convocation of the committee to harmonise the Kellogg Pact ’ for outlawing war, and the League ' Covenant. This was approved. 1 In his presidential address, M. J Benes (Czecho-Slovakia) referred to the decisive importance of the efforts ’ to conclude a pact of mutual assis- , tance for Eastern Europe.

, EASTERN PACT REJECTED ■ I (Rec. September 11, 1.80 p.m.) BERLIN, September 10. } The Government has forwarded a 3 memorandum to Britain and other int terested Governments refusing to join the Eastern Locarno pact, adding that . it cannot enter such international . treaty while certain Powers refuse i Germany equality in armaments. Ger- • many, amid highly armed States, must ■ be especially cautious before assuming an obligation which might involve her ! in all possible Eastern conflicts, probably making Germany the battle* 1 ground. POLAND’S REFUSAL LONDON, September 10. ’ Geneva telegrams state that Poland is refusing to join the proposed Eastern “Locarno” Pact. This has brought the project to the verge of collapse, causing Britain and France to renew efforts to persuade Poland to modify her attitude. An Eastern “Locarno” Pact seems the only present hope of reviving the disarmament conference. RUSSIA ADMITTED (Received September 11, 1 p.m.) GENEVA, September 10. The Council, at a private meeting, unanimously agreed to the Soviet having a permanent seat on the Council. The Argentine and Portugal abstained from voting. JAPAN’S NAVAL OFFER. TOKIO, September 10. Japan’s Foreign Office spokesman states: “Japan wants a new’ Naval Treaty, replacing the present unsatisfactory pacts, and reducing armaments, and therefore the peoples’ burdens. Our idea is not to start competition by the increasing of armaments, but. to have navies that shall not be offensively, but sufficient defensively. Therefore, if the other Powers will agree, we are ready to scrap powerful attacking weapons. We earnestly hope that the others are willing to w’ork for such an agreement. In the meantime our Navy and Foreign. Offices are doing their utmost to curb the publication of excitable rumours and to en- ‘ courage calmness.”

The statement is interpreted to mean that Japan will support the British in a desire to reduce battleships.