THE WORLD’S PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 7

THE WORLD’S PEACE

AMERICA HOLDS THE KEY MR DOWNIE STEWART’S VIEWS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) TORONTO, September 21. (Received Sept. 21, at 8 p.m.) Self-government is better than good government in the opinion of Mr W. Downie Stewart, who is attending the Commonwealth Conference. “ You hear people say of Italy that ‘ they have efficient government at any rate.’ I prefer less efficiency and more freedom.” He admitted to “ Tory ” beliefs. “ Though nineteenth century Liberalism is dying out, you can get a man to vote * black ’ or vote ‘white,’ but few want to vote ‘ grey.’ The United States holds the key to the whole of the world’s peace. She could impose peace if she wanted to. She is strong enough, but the United States will not show her hand, and there is no use attempting to deny the grave danger of war in the Pacific.”

DISARMAMENT TALKS. THE FRENCH PROPOSALS, (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 20. Sir John Simon and Captain Eden leave London either to-morrow or Friday for Geneva. They will break their journey at Paris, where they will see the French Ministers who took part in the conversations with Captain Eden and Lord Tyrrell earlier this week. A full report of the Paris conversations was presented to a special meeting of Cabinet held at Downing street. The purpose of the conversations was mainly explanatory and exploratory. The British Cabinet to-day for the first time was in a position to understand what the French Government has in mind on every point which arises in connection with the disarmament problem. It is understood that the British Ministers were much' impressed by the French Government’s helpful and reasonable attitude, and it was found that the views of the two Governments do not largely-differ on any question.

The British Government is at present considering a disarmament convention in relation to the French proposals regarding supervision and inspection of armaments, but that is only one of the points which must be considered in relation to the whole Disarmament Conference, and upon which no one Government can alone reach a decision.

At Geneva next week conversations will take place in which the Italian, American and German representatives will also take part. Within the last week or two Mr Norman Davis, chief American delegate, discussed the ] oints at issue with the British Ministers in London and with the French Ministers in Paris, while the Italian Government also contributed helpful suggestions. The general effect is that an agreement within recent weeks has been brought sensibly nearer. Although many difficult points are still outstanding, the chances of securing a disarmament convention have undergone a distinct improvement since the conference was adjourned last June. SUPERVISION PROPOSALS. LONDON, September 21. (Received Sept. 21, at 11 p.m.) It is understood that Cabinet is strongly of opinion that every effort must be made to secure a signed disarmament agreement, even if the convention formerly visualised cannot be secured. The Government declines to believe that supervision procedure will prove a barrier to an agreement. The British original proposal was that if any Government complained of a breach of a treaty by another Power the Disarmament Commission ehould inquire into the matter on the spot. ' The French prefer the system of an inquiry operating automatically without a specific charge being made. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says: “It is .not contemplated that there ehould be no limit and that the commission should pry into every secret, but that a practical method shall be devised to see whether the convention is being kept or not. If France can have a guarantee through an impartial examination that the signatories observe the convention then a better convention may be secured.”