APPEAL FOR PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23894, 23 August 1939, Page 9

APPEAL FOR PEACE

ACTION BY BELGIAN CABINET CONFERENCE SUGGESTED OSLO CONVENTION POWERS (United Press Association) ' (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) BRUSSELS, Aug. 21. A special Cabinet meeting decided to propose that the signatories of the Oslo convention —Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark and Finland—jointly appeal for peace. King Leopold is inviting the seven foreign Ministers to Brussels for a conference on August 23. An appeal will be addressed to the Great Powers urging them to do their utmost to avoid war. which would lead to untold sufferings among their own peoples, and to smaller nations not concerned in their quarrels. Norway, Sweden and Denmark have already agreed to attend the conference. THE APPEAL BEING DRAFTED KING LEOPOLD'S SUPPORT LONDON, Aug. 21. The Daily Chronicle and Herald leaders urge the recall of Parliament. The Belgian Foreign Minister, M. Pierlot, will preside at the Brussels conference, the aims of which will be co-ordination of the attitude of neutrals towards such problems, for instance, as the transportation of food supplies, the care of the wounded, and sheltering of refugees. The peace appeal is being drafted. King Leopold will not mediate. He is a supporter, not the inspirer, of the conference. COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS LONDON, Aug. 21. While the echoes of rolling gun wheels and marching men permeate Centi" 1 Europe, the reactions of King Leopold's- Oslo Powers' conference are not yet fully audible. Comments range from the Wilhelmstrasse Spokesman's remark that the conference will be successful "if the participants talk sense to Poland and persuade her allies to return to the principles of the Lansing Note," to the French inclination to coldshoulder any efforts ' directed to "changing the name of Munich to Brussels." The Wilhelmstrasse adds: " Germany is not making concessions."