HOUSE OF COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22121, 27 November 1933, Page 7

HOUSE OF COMMONS

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE THE DISARMAMENT SITUATION SUPPORT OF THE LEAGUE (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, November 24. The disarmament situation was reviewed in a speech in the House of Commons by Sir John Simon, who summed up the British policy in the following sentences:—First, adjournment of the conference did not mean adjournment of the work for disarmament. It meant the opposite. The British Government intended that this period of suspension should be devoted without delay and without intermission to an exchange of views between the individual Governments in order to prepare the ground on which the conference could resume its work, ground which had been so fatally interfered with by Germany’s withdrawal. Secondly, how these exchanges of view could be best carried. on must depend on circumstances. The British Government considered that those exchanges should be conducted through diplomatic channels in the form of bilateral conversations. Thirdly, Britain welcomed the assurance of Herr Hitler that Germany’s one desire was for peace, and that she had no aggressive designs. Fourthly, Britain held that Germany also had her contribution to • make in order to render general disarmament possible in practice, and he hoped that as the outcome of the exchange of views which were now going to be undertaken it would be found possible to translate those assurances into such concrete shape as would help build up that international security which was an indispensable condition to disarmament. The view had been expressed. that the conference should go on as if nothing had happened with, a view to framing an agreed convention which, shbuld then be tendered to, the absentee or absentees, with an invitation, or demand, that they should sign it. Apart from the. practicability of that procedure, which could only be carried out if they were reasonably sure that they were going to get every State in the agreement, he questioned the advisability of such procedure, and could imagine none more likely to drive the iron into Germany’s soul than to suggest that Germany’s withdrawal made no difference and for the rest to formulate a document and request Germany, to sign on the dotted line. The object was to bring about a general' agreement, and the only way to reach it was by negotiation, not by the method of shots at long range. Germany was not a target for dictation. She was a partner in the discussion. In recent weeks a number of tentative suggestions had arisen on the German side.

Sir John Simon referred to a speech by Herr Hitler before the elections and to the more recent interview with him in the great French newspaper, which called fof the mbgt considered examination by all seeking peace and reconciliation. He wished to acknowledge that Italy had made the most valuable contribition towards an agreement. Thera had been some very strongly phrased declarations made by the head of the Italian Government, but the Italian Government had authorised its representatives to explain that Italy was not seeking to avoid or continue the good work of the conference, but was anxious to co-operate, with the rest. In the same way it had : been made clear that , the French Government would not assume a rigid position. By good feeling, good sense, and complete friendly co-opera-tion, there had been unanimity on procedure, which was an essential preliminary to an agreement on substance. Sir John Simon said that the Government had made it plain to the French Government that if it could see its way to enter into closer communication with the German Government it would have Britain’s complete- goodwill in so doing, Britain had indicated to the German Government that the whole British influence would be used to try to bring about a spirit of negotiation and cooperative action, instead of keeping Germany at a distance. Captain Eden said that the disarmament situation was such that greater energy than ever must be exerted to carry through the-work of the conference. Support of the League was, he trusted, and always would be, a cardinal feature of British foreign policy. BRITAIN’S LEAD APPROVED. ' . LONDON, November 25. (Received Nov. 26, at 6.30 p.m.) Britain’s new disarmament lead, as announced by Sir John Simon, is warmly welcomed abroad. French official circles, however, are divided between a desire for international peace and a distrust of Hitlerism. ’ The Berlin press gives prominence to the speech, which is regarded as an important step in the. right direction, but it is noted that there is still no recognition of Germany’s demand for equality of treatment. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press Association states that it is reliably reported that direct negotiations for disarmament have already begun between France and Germany through diplomatic channels.

FRANCE DESIRES PEACE. DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. MEMORIES OF THE PAST. LONDON, November 25. (Received Nov. 26, at 7.10 p.m.) Sir John Simon, in a further speech, said that France was most deeply devoted to. peace. What made her hesitate to reduce her armaments was the memory of repeated invasion of her eastern side. Across the frontier was another great people, also nursing a memory—it was a memory of humiliation, defeat and disarmament, imposed on them by a treaty which did not indeed make that disarmament conditional upon disarmament of othevs, but certainly recorded the intention of the victors to follow with disarmament of their own. The new generation of Germans had inherited these bitter memories, and they had a leader who, whatever one might think of his methods, embodied their claim to dignity and to status of equality.