DISARMAMENT ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 9

DISARMAMENT ISSUE

GERMAN RETURN SOUGHT DELEGATES TO CONFER MEETING AT GENEVA TO-DAY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 5, J0.25 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5 The Geneva correspondent of the Morning Post states that Baron von Neurath the German delegate, will meet representatives of Britain, America, France and Italy oil Tuesday in an earnest endeavour to solve the problem of Germany's return to the Disarmament Conference. Germany, like a, woman courted by several parties, therefore realises her strength. Mr. Kam say Mac Donald's efforts at conciliation have already persuaded Franco to consider the German proposals. British delegates support the proposal of the American representative. Mr. Norman Davis, embodying the actual accomplishments of the conference in an agreement. Mr. Davis wishes to go home quickly with something in his pocket to show for his work at Geneva. The British delegates. however, realise that it is difficult' to make concrete suggestions which can be embodied in an agreement. AMERICAN PROPOSALS SIGNING OF AGREEMENT ACTIVITY OF ADVOCATE GENEVA. Dec. -t Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald and M. Herriot met at a social gathering, but politics were not. discussed. Mr. Norman Davis (America), is actively pushing the American proposals, which are tantamount to the adjournment of the Disarmament Conference. He suggests that a statement of the principles on which accord has been reached, including the abolition of chemical and bacteriological warfare, the limitation of guns and tanks, and the prohibition of aerial bombardment of defenceless towns, should be signed before December 15, after which a provisional convention could be hammered out by a Permanent Commission, wh:ch would completes the work by Easter. The convention would constitute the first stage of disarmament. lasting until April, 1937, and terminating with the Washington Treaty. Meanwhile the commission would endeavour to elaborate the agreement embracing the whole field of the American proposals and provide recognition of German equality with restrictions. Mr. Davis discussed the matter with M. Herriot, but reached no agreement. M. Herriot has announced that he will return to Paris on December 6, apparently indicating that there is small hope that conversations with Baron von Neurath (Germany), who will arrive tomorrow, will provide a settlement. The French indicate their preparedness to continue discussions without Germany to enable the General Committee to examine their plans, which they claim constitute the first comprehensive definition of German equality. SUPPORT IN GENEVA TRANSFER TO COMMISSION OPPOSITE LONDON ATTITUDE (Received December 5, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5 The Daily Herald states that the attempt to close down the Disarmament Conference and band the business over to a Permanent Commission is gathering strength at Geneva. . Such an act of confession of failure of the present achievements of the Disarmament Conference would be little more than an amplification and extension of the old Hague Convention and would do nothing to make war less probable or to remove swollen armaments. r lo throw up the sponge now would be a piece of intolerable poltroonery.