DISARMAMENT TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 9

DISARMAMENT TALKS

BRITAIN AND FRANCE SATISFACTORY TO BOTH SIDES (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) * RUGBY, September 19. The Anglo-French conversations on disarmament yesterday are declared on both sides to have been satisfactory, and to have improved the prospects of the Disarmament Conference. The French point of view was expressed in greater detail than hitherto, and the newspapers state that the impression of the British delegation • was : that considerable progress had been made towards approximating the respective policies of the two countries. Mr Henderson had one hour’s conversation with M. Boncour this morning, and is leaving forthwith for Geneva. Mr Norman Davis is also meeting M. Boncour to-day. Captain' Eden reached London this afternoon by air from Paris, and reported to the Prime Minister so that tomorrow’s special meeting of the Cabinet will be fully informed on the substance of the Paris conversations; Sir John Simon this evening left Balmoral, where he has been Minister in Attendance on the King, and will reach London in time for to-morrow’s Cabinet meeting. It is quite possible that the AngloFrench talks • will be resumed in a few days.

MR ARTHUR HENDERSON. DEPARTURE FOR GENEVA. PARIS, September 19. Prior to leaving for Geneva, Mr Arthur Henderson emphasised the difficulties of disarmament. He explained that the French secret dossier on German disarmament could hot be presented because it was a matter for the League.

THE FRENCH PLAN.

REGULAR SUPERVISION.

LONDON* September 20. (Received Sept. 21, at 0.15 am.)

The fact that an emergency meeting of the Cabinet is being held to-day is sufficient indication of the urgency of the disarmament discussions. It is understood' that the conversations in Paris centred mainly on the French plan for regular compulsory supervision of national' armaments at intervals of six months over a trial period of years, after which the French Government would agree to-a disarmament measure if the agreement was meanwhile observed. The British United Press Paris correspondent says Mr Norman Davis delivered the following verbal message by President Roosevelt to M. Daladier : «Enough of killing time. What does France want?” The Daily Express’s diplomatic correspondent suggests that France is prepared #o withdraw from the Disarmament Conference if her demands are not accepted. Britain is thus in a predicament because if she agrees to France’s proposals then angry Germany is likely to break up the conference. France’s object in proposing an armament ‘ standstill,’ with supervision, is to provide means for really testing Germany’s disarmament.” m _ -X* V. The Daily Herald says: “The British services strongly oppose the idea of inspection of arsenals and dockyards, but unless their objections are overruled hy the Cabinet the fate of the Disarmament Conference seems to be sealed.”