Britain is Not Interested

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 7

Britain is Not Interested

ROOSEVELT’S MARKED COLDNESS. L United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 7.40 p.m. WASHINGTON, May 25. Mussolini’s appeal to President Roosevelt to call a world arms limitation conference was received witli marked coldness. President Roosevelt signified bis unreadiness to comment by saying be bad not seen it. Other officials said it was unlikely President Roosevelt will act because of advices recently received from Britain that she was not interested in an arms conference and intends to proceed with her building programme. It is dehnitely understood here that Britain will not agree to participate until her rearmament is completed. Britain pointed out that she was not only committed to her programme in policy but had also made financial commitments. The impression prevailed in some diplomatic circles that Mussolini was hopeful of arms limitation in order to curtail British rearmament which he largely stimulated by the conquest of Ethiopia. In such circumstances diplomats are convinced that Britain will not consent to a conference.

Officials expressed the view that the United States will noE move for a world conference on economic or any important subjects until the Imperial Conference concludes, and Britain determines her position regarding such questions.