Mr. Chamberlain Hopes For Early Anglo-Russian Agreement

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 7

Mr. Chamberlain Hopes For Early AngloRussian Agreement

(Received 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 24. T>EGARDIXG THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND RUSSIA, 1 MR CHAMBERLAIN, SPEAKING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, SAID: “THE HOUSE IS AWARE THAT VISCOUNT HALIFAX WAS ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH FRENCH MINISTERS IN PARIS, EN ROUTE TO GENEVA. HE WAS ALSO ABLE TO CONTINUE AT GENEVA CONVERSATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WITH THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN LONDON.

“As a result of these conversations, all relevant points of view have now been made clear, and I have every reason to hope that, as a result of proposals which Britain is now in a position to make on the main questions arising, it will be found possible to reach a full agreement at an early date.

“There still remains some further points to be cleared up, but I do not think that there is likely to arise any serious difficulty.”

§ The Premier indicated that it would be unlikely that there would be any further development to report until after Whitsuntide, but he added that he hoped, after the House reassembled on June 5, that he would be able to give a complete account of the agreement, which he trusted might by then have been reached. Concerted Action Plan Approved. A cable message adds that “The Times” says an agreement between Britain, France and the Soviet seems in sight. Cabinet this morning passed a plan providing for immediate concerted action in the case of aggression against certain other European Powers. The whole plan will be worked out on a practicable basis in the light of the British agreements with Poland, Turkey, Rumania and Greece. The scheme contains all the fundamental points on which Russia insisted. Viscount Halifax returned from Geneva and went immediately to a (meeting of the Cabinet.