DISARMAMENT TASK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18041, 18 March 1933, Page 7

DISARMAMENT TASK

NEW BRITISH PROPOSALS FAVORABLE RECEPTION “PATH TO A DEFINITE GOAL’’ (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, March 17. Newspaper editorials agree that it is necessary to study details before.pronouncing' a judgment on Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s disarmament plan. Tho Times says the Disarmament Conference had lost its way. but Mr. MacDonald p t it on the st algid jv.to to a ddi,m!.e goal.. tiie Daily Telegraph thinks that the real barrier to. disarmament is. the continuing distrust and tension between France and Germany. The journal welcomes' the new plan a,s affording an opportunity for tho restoration of confidence. Mr. MacDonald spoke as though the whole future depended on the impression he made. He pleaded, whispered, shouted, threatened, and hanged the rostrum. He said he had no sympathy with the representative of any nation who said to the representative of another nation: “I cannot meet you.’’ Continuing, Mr. MacDonald said:— “I ache to get away from these feminine follies. Yon lire not mannequins ; you are men.” Finally tho British Prime Minister declared: —“Our plan is not a message to Mars; it is a message to Europe. ’ ’ Mr.’MacDonald’s proposals took 80 minutes to unfold. M. Daladier promised to examine them with great interest and entire sympathy. He said that France favored progressive, simultaneous and effec-tive-controlled cl i sarm amen t. Mr. Hugh Gibson welcomed the proposals which, lie hoped, would bo the basis of a durable convention. The conference then adjourned to enable tho members to examine the proposals. ITALIAN DISCUSSION BRITISH MINISTER’S VISIT MEETING WITH MUSSOLINI (British Official Wireless.) Rec. noon. RUGBY, March 17. Mi'. MacDonald and Sir John Simon, ho leave Geneva accompanied by Miss Lshhel .MacDonald, late to-night, will be met by the Italian War Minister, General Jalbo, who will himself pilot the aircraft in which Mr. MacDonald and his daughter will bo carried to the Ostra seaplane base. An Italian force escort will attend throughout the flight. The greater part of Sunday will be devoted to conversations on current questions between Signor Mussolini and Mr. MacDonald. At night tho Ministers will be the guests of the head of the Italian Government at a dinner. , On his return journey on Monday Mr. MacDonald will make a brief stay in Paris, where he will meet M. Daladier, who, with M. Poncour, was to-day engaged in a discussion on disarmament with Mr. MacDonald and Sir John Simon. FAVORABLE REACTION AMERICA DISCUSSES PLAN NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT NEW YORK, March 17. The New York Times’ Washington correspondent states that generally a favorable reaction to the new British disarmament plan is expressed in Administration circles to-day. Following Sir Ronald Lindsay’s call on Mr Franklin Roosevelt, the State Department definitely stated that the United States is prepared to adopt the British plan as a basis for discussion. Mr Norman Davis will take no new American plan with him to Geneva, but will attempt to exercise his good ■offices in an effort to speed the success of the Disarmament Conference, which, it is admitted, has reached a crisis.

While no serious attempt is made by officials to analyse the British arms proposal, in the absence of the full text, which is being forwarded, there is a general conviction that many features resemble the American proposals previously urged, particularly concerning the reduction of tanks and heavy field guns, reducing effectives on the basis of offensive and clcfen•sive categories, and having France and Italy come into full partnership in the London Naval Treaty of 1930. NOT ACCEPTABLE i GERMAN CONDEMNATION (Received March 18, 11 a.m.) BERLIN, March 17. Mr MacDonald’s convention was coolly received by the press, which sees no signs of German arms equality in it, pointing out that other nations are permitted tanks and military aircraft, but not Germany, whose navy must remain small. Moreover, while Germany’s army is fixed at 200,000, France, Czecho-Slovakia, Belgium, and Poland together total 775,000. The Lokal Anzeiger regards the plan as earnest, hut not acceptable, adding that the German delegates will continue to insist on equality of arms. CRITICISM IN FRANCE FEARS OF NEIGHBORS (Received March 18, 11 a.m.) PARIS, March 17. Mr. MacDonald’s plan met a mixed reception in the newspapers, which generally praise his goodwill, but unanimously regard the guarantees of security us insufficient, while the Right Wing papers are mostly hostile. “Portinax,” in the Echo de Paris, says tho plan destroys tho French army and alters tho balance of power in Europe. Le Journal says the plan contains sufficient favorable elements to serve as a basis, hut many provisions must be revised. La Nouvelle declares that the scheme asks France lor too uiuch, and otters too little. Mr. MacDonald’s plan is the main topic of conversation in tho lobbies of tho Chamber. The chief criticism is that it docs not provide penalties against an aggressor nation. It also takes no account of the Fascist militia in Italy, or tho Nazi organisations in Germany, which the French consider military forces.