OFF TO STRESA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12527, 12 April 1935, Page 5

OFF TO STRESA

MISSION OF SECURITY AND PEACE. DEPARTURE OF BRITISH MISSION. MR. MACDONALD MAY RETURN ON MONDAY. ARRIVAL OF MUSSOLINI. DUCK V.’ELGOMES FRENCH MINISTERS. 'British Official Wireless.). RUGBY, April 10. It is anticipated in London that the three-Poftvor conference will llaVe completed its business by flic weekend. Air MacDonald hopes to be able to fly hack from Strcsa in time to hear the. Budget speech, of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons on. Monday afternoon-., hut Sir John Simon will proceed to Geneva to attend the special meetingof the League Council. The Prime Minister and Sir John Simon flew in a two-engined service aeroplane from Hendon to Lo Bonr get, Paris this afternoon. There they were joined by Sir Robert Vausittart and other members of the British. delegation. Before leaving, the- Prime- Minister said: “We are starting on our mission of international goodwill, coopotation,, united security, and peace, r hope with all my heart, that iv« shall he- successful. Wo shall certainly try to. he.” Signer Mussolini I - r;c arrived, piloting a three-engined seaplane from Milan. It is understood that while the main conference is proceeding, Afri can experts will dieuas the Abyssinia question. Signor Muss'd ini cordially welcom eel M. FI and in and M. Laval at the railway station, and accompanied them to their betel. REASON FOR GOVERNMENT’S SILENCE, MINISTER DENIES CABINET HAS NO POLICY. OBJECT OF MEETING TS TO “OLLF.CT VIEWS. NO DEFINITE COMMITMENT. 'British Official Wireless.), RUGBY. April in. Sir John Simon said today that R would he incorrect to assume that the British Government had no- policy. It had been always understood that the main purpose of Stresa was to collect the views of the British, French and Italian Governments in the light of tli e impressions gained by British Ministers, as to the best, methods of assuring the maintenance of the ponce of Europe in the •ircaimstanc-es created by the recent developments, chief among -which was the rearmament- of Germany. Answering various supplementary questions. Sir John Simon gave an a*liranec that as in the case of the previous conference no definite commitment would he entered into without- previous discussion in Parliament The Government’s freedom of action ho said, would not be affected in anyway by what passed at Stresa. The conference wow'd be followed closely by a special meeting of the League Council, bu t be did not anticipate that matters would there reach ;1 hunk stage. Asked to explain' Germany’s reason for tlio exclusion of Lithuania from the countries with whom &he was willing to make bilateral non-ag-gression pacts. For John Simon said that the reason given was confined to the present ci ream stances, and ho referred to the difference in connection with Mem cl. Further asked whether tlvo Government. had considered putting down the question of Mem el on the agenda at- the League meeting. Sir John Simon said that the British Government ha c } n °f .waited until now; hut had taken up the matter and pressed it on several occasions. At the end of last month, it- communicated with the French and Italian Governments on the subject, and he hoped shorfoy to learn more clearly what their views were, as the three Governments had n- special interest in the Memel question. Th c Prime Minister was asked whether, in order to remove misapprehension in German official quarters, and whieh\ if all,owed ,to continue, must adversely affect Anglo-German relations. His Majesty’s Government would consider the advisability of intimating to the German Government that the transfer to Germany of any colonial mandate by His .Majesty’s Government was a matter which R was no in any circumstances prepared to consider. Mr MacDonald replied that, lie had no reason to suppose that the German. Government was under any such misapprehension. The policy of Hi s Majesty’s ’Government had . been repeatedly anj clearly stated by the present Government. FASCIST PRESS FORECAST OF BUSINESS INQUIRY INTO ROME AND LONDON AGREEMENTS THEN PARITY DEMANDS BY SMALLER NATIONS. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.; April 11, 8.10 p.TU.) ROME. April 11. The Fascist press are unanimous that the Strena- conference will commence an inquiry whether the Rome and London agreements can be adopted to meet the changed situation. The 'delegates will then be called to deal with the problem created by the mands for military parity put forward by Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

CONFERENCE VRTIi PARTY LEADERS SUGGESTED. MINISTER TO BEAR IDEA JN MIND, GU.P.A.Jby Elec. Tel. Copyright.) LONDON, April 10. In the House of Commons, Mr G. Mander asked whether, in view of the gravity of the international situation- the Government would consider tlio advisability -of inviting the loaders of the Opposition to confer with the Government to sec how far they could secure united support for a foreign policy based on collective action for a, limitation of arms through the League. Mr J.. H. Thomas replied that .the suggestion would lie borne in mind. INTERNA TION AI, AERIAL POLICE • BOOTH AFRfCA-’S VIEW, FATE OF LEAGUE WOULD BE SEALED. {British Official U’irelpna.\ . RUGBY, April 10. Mr J. IF Thomas was asked in the. Mouse of Commons whether any °f the Dominions had at any t-inio been consulted regarding the French proposal cf March 1033, for an international aerial police force for the purpose of preventing the misuse of end] aircraft. ' He said that throughout hlio ermr.se of-the Disarmament Conference there had been constant eonsuHntions with the representatives ol the Dominions on all a spoof? of the problem involved. So far as lie was aware no Dominion Government had made any offi rial pronouncement m this particular proposal, but there had been published from time to time statements of the Dominions’ repiesentatives indicating dissent from the conception with ail armed force of its own. Answering a supplementary question., Air Thomas cited as- the pronouncement of one of the Dominion representatives the speech of General Smuts, in which he said; “If an attempt were made now to transform into a military machine the League of Nations, to carry on .war for preventing or ending war, I think its fate is sealed. I cannot conceive the Dominions remaining in such a League i°r which it has to Up.lit the wars of the Old World, and if the Dominions leave it. Great Britain is bound TO follow.” BRITISH PREMIER IN ITALY ,U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Roe. April 12, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON. Apr.il 11 To the strains of “God Save The King,” played by a military hand, and with a- guard of holier Air MacDonald arrived in Italv by tram at 8.40 a.m. Signor Mussolini warmly shook builds and spoke in English. The authorities arc taking great P re " cautions to ensure the safety of the foreign delegations. Y\ lien M. Laval went for an early :rrrll he found himself surround; I by 21 plain clothes detectives.