EUROPE AND PEACE

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1935, Page 5

EUROPE AND PEACE

AIR ARMAMENTS Mr. Eden’s Review (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 27. Mi' A. Eden (Lord Privy Seal) has arrived in London from Geneva. In an interview he said: ‘‘We have I believe, every reason to be well pleased with the work, of last week’s League Council. Three issues ol very real importance were before us: Dan zig, the Hungarian-Yugoslav dispute, and the difference.- between Itulv an’ Abyssinia. The difficulties in r< .-pec o Danzig have b('e n appeased, the Hu ngautin-Yugoslav di.spujL is now happily closed, and the I lain Abyssinia differences have been fairly set on the way to a settlement. In all these instances, the League’s authority has been upheld and il< ability to promo* c peaceful settlement of international disputes once again been exemplified. Our thnnk s are due to the wise statesmanship of the parties concerned and to ‘.ho-e Governments who have contributed to those results.’’ Air Eden was warmlv cheered when In' rose in the Commons to-day to answer a request made by Air G. Lansburv for a statement in regard to the proceedings at Geneva on ‘he Italo-Fthiopian dispute. Afterwards, Air Lansburv asked t" be allowed in the name of the lions* 1 , to <-ongratn late the League Council and Mr Eden on the resu’-t of the conferences and negotiations, and to say he thought every one in the House would hope this was the firs: and most important step towards an equitable and permanent settlement of the dispute. In his statement, Air Eden recalled before tlie League Council meeting ‘he British Government were engaged m discussion with the other Governments chefiy concerned. and during last week these continued bet'Aecn the Governments ami between their representatives at Genova. The proceedings before the Council indicated that the liberty of the arbitrators would not b ( > limited. They might consider all the circumstances bearing upon ‘he differences between tin? parties. It was understood that the actual delimitation of tin l frontier on tin ground would no- be part of the arbitrators duties. This task, which would no doubt t-nko time would In l carried nut in due course by a. special Halo-Ethic-pian boundary commission. It was. however, satisfactory that both parties had renewed their assurances ‘o proceed to. an agreed demarcation of the frontier as soon ns their present differences had been peacefully settled. Without suggesting that the Council’s resolution finallv disposed of the tension between Italy and 'Ethiopia. Air Eden said he was confident that they represented an important advance towards a friendly solution. Both parties had accepted the eo-opera*ion of the League in seeking a settlement. By so doing, the Governments concerned had made a contribution which it was earnestly hoped would lead to the early restoration of mutually satisfactory relations. But for tin- spir it of conciliation displayed by the Italian Government. its representative at Geneva. Signor Aleisi, together wi'h invaluable co-operation of Al. Laval, the progress they were now aide to record could not have been realised. Sir J. Simon gave an cmpha'ic denial to a series of mis-statements recently published in Rome alleging tne British Government had concentrated troops on both the Wlrtv and Blue N les and So'oat, and near Lake Rudolph, had enroll’d Alihan na*; v-.-. had nuilt strategic railways towards Ihe Abyssinian frontier, bed constructed camouflaged lending grounds under the guise of playing fields, and had concentrated aeroplanes at vfir’nr--frontier centres. These - doelared Sir J. Simon, were de* itut* 1 o■ anv foundation whatever. Replying to a question regarding 'rangier. Sir ,1. S'mon ‘ooh opportunity to emphasise that the British Government’s policy was in no way directed against the Moorish religion and institutions, nor had any propo - al been made that could imply any such intention. So far from seeking to change the existing international regime in Tangier, the policy of the British Government was to strengthen that regime by seeking an improvement in the administration of the zone more particularly in the financial and judicial spheres.

AIR BALDWIN’S SPEECH. LONDON. May 27. Mr Baldwin. addressing women Conservatives, defended the reinforcement of the Air Force. He said that Hitler’s adven- to power changed the whole situation. England knew immediately, and the world would know to-morrow, if England built a single aeroplane or enlisted half a dozen soldiers but a dictator could veil his country's preparations. Germany’s activities increased Europe '*•_ apprehensions but panic was needless. Nevertheless. England must defend not only the narrow seas, but the air above them. No Government could exist which allowed Britain’s Air Force to become inferior Io any within striking dis'.ince. Air forces created fear in Europe, therefore an aerial agreement was vital. The greatest mean s of security would be Anglo-American collaboration embodying sanctions such as no earthly Power dare defy, but perhaps this could never be obtained. The Government's object was to maintain the security of Britain work harmoniously with all nations, ami try to achieve a limitation of armaments and European security. AERIAL ARMS PACT. RUGBY, May 27. Tn response to a Parliamentary question as to whether it was intended immcdiatelv to convene a conference to negotiate on the passages in Hitler’s recent speech, referring to limitation of air armaments and alternatively, whether any. and if so, what steps were being taken by the British Government to mitigate the tension that prevails internationally Sir J.

Simon said as regards Hie first par* of the question, the British Government which had throughout urged the importance of promoting an agreement on this subject, had for some ‘im° past been in communication with other Governments concerned, respecting lb<‘ possibility of negotiations between th' five Powers mentioned in ‘.he London communique on the air part and limitation agreement. As regards the second part of the question, the Government were devoting the most earnest endeavours to the promotion of :> general settlement, acceptable tn nil parties concerned, of the various

questions now outstanding, in the international sphere. NAVAL PARLEY. LONDON. May 27. It is expected that the Anglo-Ger-t‘ii Naval conversations will begin in Lendo? ot June 4. on whi'-li day Herr Rihbentr. p and the Germai: Naval expert' will arrive. The British representatives will be Admiral Little, De-puty-Chief of the Naval Staff. Mr R. L. Craigie, of the Foreign Office, and Captain Danckwerts.