ARMS CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 11

ARMS CONFERENCE

SLOWNESS OF PROGRESS BRITAIN BECOMES ANXIOUS British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 9 The Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, was questioned in the House of Commons to-day about the recent British suggestions for the speeding-up and making effective of the programme of work at the Disarmament Conference. In reply Mr. Mac Donald stated that the immediate objective of the Government was to secure a reduction of the air forces of the leading Powers to the British level, to be followed by a further all-round reduction of one-third ancl a limitation of the unladen weight in military and naval aircraft. A desire to see the Disarmament Conference speeded up was expressed by Captain R.. A. Eden, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, at Geneva to-day, when the commission <met to consider the agenda tor the conference. '• Wo are becoming anxious at the slow progress of the conference," said Captain Eden. " Unless substantial decisions can be reached within the next few weeks the prospects for the conference must become steadily darker. " Britain believes that the present session should mark the entry upon a new phase of the conference. One of our decisions is that the Governments must shoulder their responsibilities and face realities."