AGREEMENT LATER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 145, 22 May 1939, Page 7

AGREEMENT LATER

BRITAIN AND SOVIET. LEAGUE COUNCIL MEETING. SITUATION UNCHANGED. (United Press Association—l3y Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Deceived May 22, 10.55 a.m. LOIN DON, May 21. Tlie Geneva correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says that a .cordial conversation, between Lord Halifax (Foreign Secretary) and M. Maisky (Soviet Ambasasdor) in London lasted 90 minutes. No further conversations on Anglo-ltussian affairs will occur during this session of the League Council over which M. Maisky is presiding. _ Itussian circles are of the opinion that though complete agreement will be reached later the conversations have not changed the situation. Lord Halifax will report to Cabinet on May 24. He also saw to-day Professor Burckhardt (Danzig High Commisisoner) and Mr It. J. Sandler (Swedish Foreign Minister). A British Official ‘Wireless message received earlier stated that Lord Halifax had left London for Paris on route ito Geneva. The British negotiations I with the Soviet, in an endeavour to I build up a peace front against aggres- | sion would form the basis of bis talks 'with French Ministers. The points of view of Britain and Russia were now more fully appreciated and it was common ground between them that further aggression must he prevented or resisted. Friday’s developments had assisted in further defining to each other the attitudes of the two Governments. The Soviet Ambasador in London (M. Maisky), who will preside over the League Council meeting on Monday, left for Geneva to-day after having two interviews at the Foreign Office and attending the debate on Foreign Affairs in the House of Commons. RUSSIA’S ATTITUDE. At the morning meeting, according to commentators, M. Maisky indicated that his Government saw no hope of agreement on the lines of the recent British proposals, and in the afternoon the Cabinet Foreign Policy Committee met and further considered the question in the light of M. Maisky’s communication and in view of tlio approaching conversations in Paris and Geneva. Lord Halifax and Mr Chamberlain had a long talk after the meeting had concluded. It is assumed that the French Premier (M. Daladier) and the Foreign Minister (M. Bonnet), in their talks in Paris with Lord Halifax, will again express the French desire, which is fully shared in London and warmly supported by Turkey, for a speedy Anglo-Soviet agreement. The means of overcoming the difficulties are being frankly faced. WIDER IN SCOPE. The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says: “In practice Moscow wants the pact to he wider in scope and tighter in form than the system of assurances proposed by London. The Soviet view is that such a pact would warn oil all aggression in Europe. “Moscow also wants assistance among tlie three Powers to he automatic in the case of attack on one of them, while London at first suggested that Soviet assistance should he given as and when required if Poland and Rumania were attacked. “Over the week-end,” adds _ the Times, “the British Government is to press forward again with determination and goodwill in its attempt to reach agreement. The position will ho reviewed by f lic Cabinet on Lord Halifax’s return.”