WORLD PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22026, 5 February 1935, Page 9

WORLD PEACE

PLANS TO ENSURE ANGLO-FRENCH TALKS AGREEMENT REACHED SUBMISSION TO POWERS REMOVING AIR MENACE Br Telesraph—Prjss Association—Copyright. British Wireless RUGBY. Feb. 3 The conversations between the British and French Ministers were concluded just before midnight. A complete agreement on a'l essential matters had been reached when the Ministers separated. A communique in the following terms was then issued : "The object o? the meetings between the British and French Ministers, which have been'taking place in London was to promote the peace of the world by closer co-operation in a spirit of most friendly confidence, and to remove those tendencies which, if unchecked, are calculated to lead to a race in armaments and' to increase the dangers of war. " With this object in view the British and French Ministers proceeded to an examination of the general situation. They took note of the particularly important part played by the League of Nations in recent settlements of certain international problems and welcomed the successful results as evidence of the conciliatory spirit of all the Government? which took part in those settlements. Britain and Rome Agreements " The Ministers declare their determination, both as regards the problems of their own countries and of the league, to pursue policies guided by the same methods of conciliation and co-operation. " With reference to the FrancoItalian agreements recently reached in Rome the British Ministers, on behalf of their Government, cordially welcomed the declaration by which the French and Italian Governments asserted their intention to develop the traditional friendship which unites those two nations, and they associated the British Government with the intention of the French and Italian Governments to collaborate in a spirit of mutual trust in the maintenance of general peace. " The British Ministers expressed the congratulations of their Government at the conclusion of the Rome agreement regarding Central Europe. They made it clear that:, as a consequence of the declarations m.ide by the British Government in conjunction with the French and Italian Governments on February 17 and September 27, the British Government considers itself to ho among the Pqwers which will, as provided in the Rome agreements, consult together if the independence and integrity of Austria are menaced. Plea lor German Co-operation " The British and French Ministers, hope the,, encouraging progress thusi achieved may now he continued by means of the direct and effective cooperation of Germany. They are agreed that neither Germany nor any other Power whose armaments have been defined by the pijace treaties, is entitled by unilateral action to modify these obligations. But they are further agreed that nothing would contribute more to the restoration of confidence and the prospects oF peace among the nations than a general settlement freely negotiated between Germany and the other Powers. _ "This general settlement would make provision for the organisation of security in Europe, particularly by means of, the conclusion of pacts freely negotiated between all the interested parties and ensuring mutual assistance in Eastern Europe. The system foreshadowed in the Rome process verbal for Central Europe, siimultaneously and in conformity with the terms of the declaration of December 11, 1932, regarding equality of rights, is a system of security. AdVantagss Offered to Berlin " This settlement would establish agreements regarding; armaments generally which in the case of Germany would replace the provisions of Part 5 of the Tra of Versailles, which at present linO.s the arms and armed forces of Germany. " It would also be part of the general settlement that Germany should resume her place in. the League of Nations with n view to active membership. The French and British Governments trust that the other Governments concerned may share these views, i

" In the course of these meetings the British and French Ministers have been impressed by the special dangers to peace created by modern developments in the air, ths misuse of which might lead to sudder aerial aggression by one country upon another. They have given consideration to the possibility of provision being made against these dangers by a reciprocal regional agreement between certain Powers. Proposed Aiir Convention " It is suggested that the signatories would undertake immediately to give the assistance of their Air Forces to whichever of them might be the victim of unprovoked aerial aggression by one of the contracting parties. " The British and French Ministers, on behalf of their respective Governments, found themselves in agreement that a mutual arrangement of this kind for Western Europe would go far to operate yis a deterrent to aggression and to ensure immunity from sudden attacks from the air. They resolved to invite Italy, Germany and Belgium to consider with them whether such a contention might not be promptly negotiated. Tiey earnestly desire that a 'l the countries concerned should appreciate that the object of this proposal is to reinforce peace —the sole aim pursued .by the two Governments. " The Governments of France and Britain declare themselves ready to resume the consultations without delay sfter having received replies from the Other interested Powers."