DISARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 9

DISARMAMENT

THE BRITISH PROPOSALS POWERS CONSULTED . {British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) ■ '"..'. * CBy Electric Telegraph— Copy right.) . . RUGBY, March 2. Captain Eden, who returned last night fcom a tour of the principal European '■.[■: capitals, consulted*' with Mr Ramsay r/.= MacDoHald, Mr Stanley Baldwin, and :Sir.!John Simon to-day. The purpose of r.the visits to Paris, Berlin, and Rome :■ memorandum and learn the attitude of .France,-Germany, - and Italy;towards it. ■■ French Government lias not yet ; expressed its views, and the memoran- ; diun is still under consideration. The .French/attitude will be .disclosed in a Note, which, according to Paris reports, • will be' received-in London next week. This, 'together -with the repqrts presented by Captain Eden,; will receive the earnest consideration of the British Governmenr, ■ which will consider, witnout delay, what '■■ "; it can best' do. to arrive at a solution of ; these, questions in the interests of world '■-. peace and: of the safety and interests of ; Great -Britain. "

/:;, THE AMERICAN VIEWPOINT;', i. LAST WEEK'S MEMORANDUM. WASHINGTON, March 2.. (Received March 3, at; 5 p.m.) ; ' The State Department published a memorandum to-day, reiterating arid junplifying the President's views on;dis- . armament in relation to the recent British memorandum. She American \,i viewpoint, which >.-;- was -given . to 1 ■ Sir Ronald Lindsay (British Ambassador) -by the Under-fiecfetaryAof State\ r ;(Mr Phillips) last month expressed sympathy ~., with-the principles of the British suggestion, but; stated that they were'not ."•: completely adequate. The ; United States supplementing "any agreement p. reached/ at Geneva ■with a 'World-wido non-aggression pact, such as was propounded in the President's message last . year. It is noted that the British at- . titude iwas " adopted with a view* to meeting complexities ..in the present ;/ political; situation in Europei" and the memorandum adds: "While America is •j; in noway a participant 'in such problemjs rat is nevertheless vitally interested in - the maintenance of European peace, and therefore welcomes the effort of the : British 4 Government' to -; bring about; agreement." ' .., President Roosevelt's message, which' lis referred to, was issued oh May 17, ~1933. In its terms the President ap'^pealed;directly lbthe jailers of the: nations to reduce armaments, eliminate entirely weapons of aggression*.refrain from sending any armed - forces whatr . j idey/er beyond thejr .own -borders, forget 'petty.; national,ai ins and .join sincerely to assure peace and economic recovery. The message wa;i addressed, to kings, potentates, and presidents of all the 54 nations, including Russia, represented \" at the'London .Conference of last-year.:: -..;■,*... .v : \ ■■:.-.*. ''."..■».-'.■ :'•.■:•'■■■:, ■ •'■■•.'-■ ■•■-;.■ -'."• - •■■.•-

M. BARTHOTJSDECLARATION.

FEAR OF GERMAN RE<ARMAMENT:

f ; lil.;: Barthoni:: Minister of 'Foreign , Affairs, explaining the/French rejection {i ;»f;tießritJßbdigarmairient plan; declared ?■: -that, toi the disarmament of Fralfce and the rearmament of 'Germany.;": He praised Captain Eden, whom he put. on bin guard against the danger to Britain of German '' rearmament; Gerniany demanded half : of France's jiumber of chaser aeroplanes, while, the conversion" of the German com- ■ mercial fleet into bombers would confer immediate superiority. France was determined to uphold the peace treaties. It was also considered that Austria's problem should be treated internationally. GERMAN ATTITUDE. CONCESSIONS EXHAUSTED. BERLIN, March 3. -• (Received March 4, at 11.5 p.m.) A blunt hint that it. is useless for Britain further;•to*'attempt to mediate in disarmament in Berlin is contained i&a~ statement issued by official sources. It - is declared that the, possibility of German 'Concessions is exhausted, and that Paris in the proper place to seek an agreement. The statement adds: "When ' Britain . obtained:, concessionsv from Germany I .France accepted them, but adhered to the old standpoint, leaving Britain again tb'approach,Germany.;' * France thereby ; .,. grossly misued Britain's indefatigability as a fair mediation, which'was only pos--.':.".»ibleVfwhen both sides were prepared to make concessions. Herr. Hitler's minimum programme. of bringing German armaments to the level of others is a ..compact, y'■ constructive, r. solution from ;;vwhich nothing can be taken."