USEFUL PARLEYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 9

USEFUL PARLEYS

BRITAIN AND FRANCE EUROPEAN SITUATION DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS JOINT EFFORTS FOR PEACE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, April 29 An official report issued at the conclusion of the talks between French and British Ministers states that a "ing the visit to London, M. Daladier, Prime Minister, and M. .Bonnet, Foreign Minister, had a number of conversations with Mr. Chamberlain, Viscount Halifax and other British Ministers.

In the course of these they discussed in the spirit of mutual confidence which inspires the relations between the two countries the principal questions which at present affect the maintenance of peace.

"The French and British Ministers reviewed the results of recent conversations between Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, and the Earl of Perth, British Ambassador to Italy, embodied in the agreement. The French Ministers welcomed this contribution to European appeasement," continues the report. Mediterranean and Spain "The British Ministers on their part expressed the hope that the conversations which the French Government has opened with the Italian Government will lead to equally satisfactory results. "The French and British Ministers were of the opinion that the appeasement in the Mediterranean, which would result from these agreements, would contribute to the entry into force of the resolution of November last of the Non-intervention Committee for the withdrawal of foreign participants in the civil war in Spain and would facilitate the conclusion of agreements for the withdrawal of war material. "The Ministers devoted close attention to the situation in Central Europe and found themselves in general agree- 1 ment on action that might most usefully be taken to find a useful and equitable settlement of the problems arising in thatarea. Close Community of Interests

"Also the Ministers touched on certain questions relating to the situation in the Far East and discussed questions 'which appear on the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations. The two Governments decided to continue, as might be necessary, contacts between their General Staffs.

"As a result of the very frank and full discussion which took place it was once again recognised that France and Britain are bound together by close community of interests. "The Ministers agreed that it was, therefore, of the highest importance in the present circumstances that the two Governments should continue and develop a policy of consultation and collaboration in defence not only of their common interests, but also of those ideals of national and international life which unite the two countries." Question of Staff Contacts A question which loomed unnecessarily large in some press comments on the Franco-British meetings, and on which the Ministers of the two Governments had no difficulty in recording agreement, was tho question of staff contacts. At the time of the arrangement by which these contacts were established in 1936 it was made clear from the British side that they could not and did not constitute any new obligations or commitments, and doubtless the British Ministers thought it proper to make this point again. Simple and straightforward as the question is—as tlie official s*t&tem©ivfc shows —there is danger of its being complicated by ill-informed commentary, and it is learned that, for this reason, Lord Halifax thought it desirable to see both the German and Italian diplomatic representatives in London to make the position perfectly clear. French Obligations to the Czechs

Central Europe, and, in particular, the problems facing Czechoslovakia, was the main subject of to-day's conversations. The French have precise treaty obligations regarding Czechoslovakia, and the position and interest of Britain in this same respect -were described by Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons on March 14. The British Ministers are understood to have again insisted that, whilo anxious and willing when occasion required to lend the full influence of the British Government on the side of peace, they could not assume any further commitments than those already defined in Mr. Chamberlain's statement. More particularly they undertook to explore the possibility of exc-rting British influence in all quarters where it could usefully be exerted.

With a view to discovering elements of agreement on the Sudeten question, they also agreed with the French Ministers in taking exception to a tendency, noticeable in certain quarters, to deny the rightful concern of the British as well as the French Government in this problem. The British attitude in this respect was made very clear by Mr. Chamberlain on March 14.