EUROPEAN PEACE PACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1937, Page 7

EUROPEAN PEACE PACT

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

MR. EDEN’S BRUSSELS VISIT

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, April 28.

British newspapers, without exception, share the view that Mr. Eden’s visit to Brussels was as valuable as it was cordial, and the conversations promise good results for the future of Europe. These contacts were not an occasion for negotiation, but served to enable the statesmen to develop in outline various constructive ideas for turning, in the words of “The Times,” the will to closer international collaboration wherever it exists to good account in the coming months. One point that created a favourable impression in Britain is the unquestionable determination of the Belgian Government to remain faithful to the League Covenant. The hope is expressed that the conversations will prove a hopeful prelude to wider European negotiations, and that these will mark the beginning of a new period of international co-operation. The “News-Chronicle” describes Mr Eden’s visit ,as one of the most satisfactory and encouraging visits abroad he has ever made. “The Times” thinks that after a further period of detailed study of the British and Belgian Foreign Offices’ initiative, a programme of negotiation may be expected for the general purpose of creating security between Belgium and her gerat neighbours in East and West. Questioned in the Commons on the negotiations preceding the recent joint note to the Belgian Government from the British and French Governments, the Foreign Secretary recalled the terms of the note and proceeded: “The preparatory exchange of views between the signatories to the Treaty of Locarno, with a view to the negotiating of a new, Western European security pact has shown that in any new treaty, Belgium would wish not to give guarantees to other States, and that the other four Governments concerned in the negotiations would also be prepared to agree that Belgium should not undertake to guarantee other States in the new treaty. In view, therefore, of the delay experienced in negotiating a new treaty, it was decided in order to meet the wishes of the Belgian Government, to give effect to their wish’ to be released in advance from their remaining obligations under the Locarno Treaty, and the arrangepinoqs i ’9861 ‘6l J° sfueiu like to add that the present communications in no way affect the obligations of any other country but Belgium. Mr. Eden said that Staff conversations to facilitate Franco-British guarantees to Belgium were not contemplated.

WOOING OF HUNGARY

(Recd. April 29, 2.30 p.m.) BERLIN, April 28

The Essen “National Zeitung” regarded as the organ of General Goering, accuses Mr. Geoffrey Knox, with attempting to undermine German influence in Central Europe, a.t_the orders of Mr. Eden. “He wishes to make up on the Danube for his defeat on the Saar,, and aims at undermining Hungary’s friendship with Italy and Germany, and bring her under the influence of Paris and London,” the paper declares.