ARMAMENTS PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22256, 8 May 1934, Page 7

ARMAMENTS PROBLEM

THE BRITISH POLICY CABINET DISCUSSION. LONDON, May 7. (Received May 7, at 11.15 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph says: “The Cabinet on Tuesday will discuss the policy which will be advocated at Geneva when the Disarmament Conference reassembles on May 29. A Ministerial committee has concentrated attention on a new draft plan designed to extend the existing European security guarantees in the hope that British participation will induce highly armed States to agree to limitation of armaments. Mr Ramsay MacDonald is favourable, but the majority of Ministers are unsympathetic and urge that the House of Commons will never give assent. Mr MacDonald himself is impressed by "he adverse comments of the dominions on such proposal. Meanwhile the French attitude is changing. As the result of inquiries the French General Staff now believes that French defences are superior to any potential German attack. Moreover, Germany’s economic plight is so grave that the time when she will be strong enough to attack Prance is somewhat remote. Thus France is confident of her ability to look after herself. In these circumstances Cabinet circles are of the opinion that the British role at Geneva must be more passive.”