ARMS EMBARGO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 78, 14 March 1933, Page 5

ARMS EMBARGO

REMOVED BY BRITAIN GREAT EXAMPLE IGNORED. MR BALDWIN’S STATEMENT(British. Official Wireless.) (Received 14, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, March 13. The Kt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin announced in the House of Commons that the Government had decided to remove the embargo on the exportation of arms to China and Japan as from to-day. Mr Baldwin said that the decision was announced on February 27 that no license for the export of any article, mentioned in the Arms Export Prohibition Order of 1931 either to China' or to Japan would be authorised as from that day. As stated at that time, it was a provisional arrangement pending the opportunity of international consultation and decision. Since then the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary had discussed the matter with representatives of various other countries, and it was now found in their opinion that there was no prospect of any international agreement upon the subject in the near future.

LONE HAND IMPOSSIBLE. In the circumstances, no useful purpose would be served by maintaining an embargo observed by Britain alone. It was therefore decided to remove it. At the same time, the Government remained firmly convinced that the only satisfactory solution of the problem, which was bound to recur in future, was to be found in an international agreement. Accordingly it was their intention vigorously to pursue the conversations already begun when opportunity offered, with an earnest desire to arrive at an agreement which w'ould in future secure uniformity of action on this subject. Replying to a subsequent question, Mr Baldwin said that Britain bad set a great example. As they had been unable to persuade anyone to follow it, their policy would now become that of every other nation.