"NEARER TO WAR"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21450, 25 March 1933, Page 11

"NEARER TO WAR"

CHURCHILL'S OUTBURST PRIME MINISTER ATTACKED PROTESTS BY MEMBERS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received March 24, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 23 Id the course of the debate in tho House ) of Commons which followed Mr. MacDonald's review of tho Home and Geneva conversations, Mr. Winston Churchill said ho questioned the wisdom of inviting France's acceptance of Mr. Mac Donald's latest plan. Franco ninst be greatly cont cerned over events in Germany and Germany's attitude to her other neighbours. ! " When wo see tumultuous insurgence, ferocity, a war spirit and pitiless illtreatment of minorities, purely on the ground of race—all this in one of tho most gifted, scientific and formidable nations — it is hardly the moment to ask France to halve her army while Germany doubles hers," said Mr. Churchill. " It is hardly the moment to ask France to halve her air force. Germany and Italy together would have a larger army than France. Air. Mac Donald's intervention has brought us nearer to war and made us weaker and defenceless." Cries of "no" and "withdraw." Tho Foreign Under-Secretary, Captain R. A. Eden, in replying, said Mr. MacDonald and Sir John Simon had received encouragement and constructive criticism from every part of the House except from Mr. Churchill. Surely it would be worth while to give the new method of basing a policy on disarmament a trial in order to avoid tho system which led to the Great War in 1914. If they could obtain Italy's assistance in securing tho co-operation of Franco and Germany it would be a step forward. (Cheers). It was not true to say they were asking Franco to halve her army while Germany doubled hers. The proposed convention asked Germany to change the military organisation of her professional army, imposed on her under the Versailles Treaty, to short-term militia similar to that of other nations. That condition France had repeatedly demanded. The convention provided for a generous measure of disarmament. It provided for a just and reasonable five years' settlement. Any scheme entered into must be ratified by Parliament. ARMS CONFERENCE BRITISH PROPOSALS CONTINUED CONSIDERATION GENEVA, March 23 The General Commission of the Disarmament Conference met to-day to consider a suggestion from the four great Powers that the commission should adjourn until after Easter. This was not supported, and consequently the discussion of the British plan will be resumed to-morrow. YUGOSLAVIAN VIEW SUSPICIOUS OF ITALY LONDON, March 23 A message from Belgrade says there is now a definite set against Signor Mussolini's peace plan. The newspaper Politika says the general view in 1 ugoslavia is that it is a trap set by European Fascists, whoso aims are against France and her natural Allies, the Little Entente and Poland. BRITAIN AND FRANCE WAR DEBT MORATORIUM PARIS. March 23 M. Bonnett, Minister of Finance, has returned from London where he had conversations with the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain. He says Britain will not nsk France to resume her war debts payments on June 15.