A NEW LOCARNO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 9

A NEW LOCARNO

PROPOSED CONFERENCE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 3. The position of the negotiations for a new Locarno was outlined in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden), who recalled that on November 6 his Majesty’s Government had addressed a Note to the other Governments concerned, which contained a comparison of the views expressed by the five Governments on certain questions in respect of which preparation was considered to be essential before the conference met. His Majesty’s Government had addressed a further Note to the other Governments giving its views on how the various opinions expressed by the five Governments on this question could best be reconciled, and inviting the views of the other Governments on this question. Mr Eden added that the French Government had replied, but no reply had yet been received from the Belgian, German and Italian Governments.

The Foreign Secretary observed that the German Chancellor on March 31 last did not propose any immediate general negotiations other than a new security agreement for Western Europe between the Locarno Powers. Mr Eden added that it had always been the expectation of his Majesty’s Government that progress in the negotiation of a new Western agreement would take the place of the Treaty of Locarno, and would lead to a widening of the area of the discussions so as to include other problems, a solution of which was essential to the peace of Europe.