FRANCE AND BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 9

FRANCE AND BRITAIN.

CONVERSATIONS OPENED. MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. British Wireless. RUGBY. March 13. The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, who arrived at Paris from Geneva to attend-the funeral of the late M. Briand, had an interview with the French Prime

Minister, M. Tardieu. Newspapers state that the conversations, which will be continued later, will cover a wide range of subjects of special interest to Britain and France at present.

Among other matters for discussion is the proposed Danubian Economic Federation, regarding which France recently presented a memorandum. The press anticipates that Sir John will propose that- a preliminary conference, to he attended by the larger European Powers and the five Danubian States, bo held to consider the whole situation.

Sir John is due in London to-day and a meeting of the Cabinet will be held tomorrow, at which the Foreign Secretary will report on the subects which have been under discussion at, Geneva and Paris. A communique issued bv the Fiencli Foreign. Office says M. Tardieu and Sir John expressed satisfaction at the happy conclusion of the labours of the League of Nations by the unanimous vote of the final resolution, and they further reviewed the questions which the Disarmament, Conference will discuss next week. Sir John and M. Tardieu then considered Various problems with which their respective Governments are at piesent faced. In particular they examined the economic situation of Central and Danubian Europe. They found themselves in agreement on this as in all other matters. They agreed that co-operation between France and Britain should extend over a wide field with the twofold object of appeasing political rivalries and expediting economic reconstruction in Europe*