TOWARD DISARMAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12250, 23 September 1925, Page 11

TOWARD DISARMAMENT

LEAGUE MAY CALL CONFERENCE BRITISH POLita NOT NEGATIVE i - LORD CECSL’S ASSURANCE T By Assn.—Copyright Australian and- N.Z. Cable Association (Received September 22, 7.30 p.m.) GENEVA, September 21. A quite new) development in British Cabinet methods has been revealed during the present session of the League, in the number, of audiences granted to internationaf journalists at the British delegation’s headquarters in the Hotel Beaurivage. To-night Lord Cecil was the exponent of Briijjs/in’s policy, and he began by answening the supposition, based on many ’ Press comments, that Britain’s attitude on several important matters Mad been entirely negative. That, ha said, was very far from the truth, and was wholly a wrong deduction whsn Britain’s desire was to see the mostl just and prudent solutions emergej from the League’s debates. Lord Cecil, conveyed a. veiled hint that an agreement is imminent on the thorny questions of the proposed disarmament conference. Details were not revealedj buifc the Australian . Press Association understands that it is virtually a victory, from the British point of viejw. * WHEN IJIME IS AUSPICIOUS Matters ujp* to the present have heen complicated by Hungary’s amendment,. inviting the' Council to make preliminary arrangei bents for a conference, which should l begin without delay when the co editions of security have been fulfilled,! The whole question is due for disc ussion' by the first and third commissions to-morrow, when it is expected 1 that a recommendation will be made, for submission to the plenary session, thaiyt an' inquiry be carried out through the, medium of the co-ordina-tion committed, so that when the council is convinced; that a sufficient measure of security has been achieved it may take steps tojponvene a conference. Thus, instead of there being a direct mandate from the Assembly in favour of a conference, it. will be left entirely to the Council to decide when the time is auspicious. This, tread in the light of Sir Cecil |Hurst’s assertion that ’ the League <s»nnot afford a third failure on world disarmament, is interpreted to .mean that. nothing impetuous will 1 he. undertaken; yet i)t meets the desire that some: measure of preparation for a conference lie undertaken. THE ECONOMIC INQUIRY " 'Another: question (elicited sufficient information to indicate that .M. Loucheur Had accepted the suggestions ensuring a -cautious approach to the complex problem of the world’s economic ills. With' agreement on the two most important items'! on the agenda, the hack of the* Leagues work has been broken, but some smaller commissions, toiling in* a welter of words on social and humanitarian toptics, may delay the ,.of the bjusiness over the week-end-'; .