FULL AGREEMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 13, 13 December 1932, Page 7

FULL AGREEMENT

DISARMAMENT IN EUROPE

EQUALITY OF RIGHTS

ABSTENTION FROM WARFARE.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 10.

Full agreement on the future of the Disarmament Conference was reached by the five Powers represented at Geneva to-day, Baron von Neuratli having received authority from the German Government to accept the formula drafted yesterday. The formula contains five main points, namely: (1) That the five Powers recognise that one of the aims of the Disarmament Conference is to assure equality of right to Powers disarmed by the Peace Treaties.

(2) That Germany is ready to return to the Disarmament Conference.

(3) That the European Powers will solemnly subscribe to a declaration that they will not in any circumstances resort to arms for the settlement of any dispute that may arise. (4) That the Five Powers agree that a reduction, of armaments, as provided for by Article 8 of the Covenant, to the lowest possible level compatible with national security will be brought about by stages. (5) That the work of the Conference will be continued.

PLAIN SPEAKING INDULGED IN

GENEVA, Dec. 12. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Mr Norman Davis and Sir John Simon are generally credited with what success attended the end of the Disarmament Conference. It is no secret that there was some plain speaking at the final session and that the negotiations were in hourly danger of breaking down. German circles at Geneva attribute the final acceptance of a compromise to the fact that Germany has a military Chancellor who knows how far to commit his countrymen and how to safeguard them against France’s demands for equality. Though the Sino-Japanese dispute will keep Sir John Simon at Geneva for the rest of the week, the other delegates are delighted to be relieved from attendance at disarmament proceedings until January.

GERMAN DELEGATION SCEPTICAL.

LONDON, Dec. 12. The British United Press representative at Geneva says : “The German delegation is sceptical of the value of the Five Power declaration on disarmament. Before he went to Berlin Baron von Neurath indicated that if the methods to be suggested for practical realisation, of equality of rights proved unsatisfactory Germany, would again withdraw from the Disarmament Conference. “The Big Five tentatively agreed to meet at London in the middle of December to discuss procedure, but Mr Arthur Henderson will also be present in order to show that the discussion is not an attempt to supplant the Conference itself. There is a possibility that Japan and Russia at a later stage will be invited to participate in similar discussions. Air MacDonald hopes that the present declaration will be interpreted in the United States as proof that Europe is making serious efforts to set her house in order, but the United States delegate is understood to be disappointed that time did not permit of a thorough exploration of the possibility of a preliminary disarmament convention. It is hoped that an attempt to frame a convention will be made early in the New Year.