DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1932, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

LEADERS TO MEET

GERMANY'S RETURN PROBLEM.

(United Press A isociation—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.)

LONDoN, December 5. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Geneva correspondent says: “The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Neurath, meets) the representatives of Britain, America, France and Italy on Tucscay in an earnest endeavour to solve the problem bf Germany’s return to the Disarmament Conference.

“Germany is now like a woman who is courted by several parties. Therefore she realises her strength. Mr MacDonald’s efforts at conciliation have already persuaded France to consider Germany’s proposals. “The British delegates support Mr Davis, the American delegate’s proposal for the embodying of the actual accomplishments of the conference in an agreement. Mr Davis wishes to go home quickly with something in his pocket to skew for his work at Geneva. The British delegates however, realise that it is difficult to make concrete suggestions which can be embodied in an agreement.”

CONVERSATIONS AT CENEVA.

NO AGREEMENTS REACHED.

GENEVA, December 4.

Mr MacDonald and M. Herriot met at a social gathering. Politics were not discussed, but Mr Norman Davis is actively pushing the American proposals tantamount to the adjournment of the Disarmament Conference.

He suggests that a statement of principles on which accord is reached, including the abolition of chemical and bacteriological warfare, limitation of guns and tanks, and prohibition of aerial bombardment of defenceless towns, should be signed before December 15, after which could be hammered a provision convention by the permanent commissioner, which would complete the work by Easter. The convention would constitute the first stage of disarmament, lasting until Apr.l I£'37, and terminating with the Washington Treaty. Meanwhile the commission will endeavour to elaborate the agreement, embracing the whole field of the American proposals, and provide Recognition of the German equality with restrictions.

Mr Davis discussed the matter with M. Herriot, but rached no agreement. M. Herriot announced that he is Returning to Paris on December 6 apparently indicating smnll httpe that tile conversations with Herr von Neul nth, who i« arriving to-morrow, will provide a settlement, The French indicate a preparedness to continue discussions without Germany, to. enable' the genev. al committee, to examine the plans which claim to be the first comprehensive definition of German equality.

rivalry in shipbuilding.

BETWEEN FRANCE AND ITALY

LONDON, December 5. The “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent says: “Shipbuilding rivalry between France and Italy is becoming acute. Their new race is a difficulty confronting the Disarmament Conference. Italy had previously warned France that if the warship “Dunkerque” were laid down, she would be compelled to build a similar vessel. The competition was carried a stage further by Signor Mussolini’s order to construct two more cruisers of the “Condottiere” class, thus raising its total to twelve, the last four being of seven ■ thousand tons. Within seven years Italy ha s constructed, or ordered, nineteen cruisers, or only three fewer than the British Empire. During the past eight years Italy and France have built thirty-eight cruisers, ninety-six destroyers, and one hundred and thirty-five submarines. This is a total far exceeding the output of the British Empire and the United States. Not being parties to the London Naval Treaty, France and Italj r are free to build as much light tonnage vessels as they please.

IS CONFERENCE A FAILURE?

LONDON, December 5. The “DailV Herald” say S : “An attempt t 0 close down the Disarmament Conference and to hand the business over to a permanent commission is gathering strength at Geneva. Such an act is a confession of a failure. The present achievements of the Disarmament Conference are little more than an amplification and an extension of the olcl Hague Convention. These do nothing to make war less probable, or to remove the swollen armaments. To throw- up the sponge now would he a piece of intolerable poltroonery. ’