DISARMAMENT WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18255, 25 November 1933, Page 6

DISARMAMENT WORK

SITUATION REVIEWED BRITISH POLICY PREPARING FOR RESUMPTION (British Official Wireless.) Roc. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 24. The disarmament situation was reviewed in a speech in the House of Commons by Sir John Simon, the. Foreign Secretary, who summed up the British policy in the following sentences: Firstly, ihc adjournment of the conference did not mean an adjournment of the work for disarmament. It meant the opposite. The British Government intended that this period of suspension should he devoted without delay and without intermission to an exchange of views between individual Governments in order to prepare the ground on winch the conference could resume its work—ground which had been so vitally interfered with by Germany’s withdrawal.

Secondly, bow those exchanges of view could best be carried on must depend on lho circumstances. The British Government considered that those exchanges should, be conducted through diplomatic channels in the form of bi-lateral conversations.

Thirdly, we welcomed tint assurance of Herr Hitler that Germany’s one desire is for peace, and that she had no aggressive designs.

Fourthly, we hold that Germany also has her contribution to make in order to render general disarmament possible in practice, and we hope as the outcome of the exchange of views which is now going to lxi undertaken that it will be found possible to translate those assurances into such concrete shape as will help to build up that international security which is an indispensable condition to disarmament.

The. view had been expressed that tin conference should go on as if nothing had happened with a view to framing the agreed convention, which should then he. tendered to absentee or absentees with an invitation or demand that they should sign it. Apart from the practicability of that procedure, which could only be carried out if they were reasonable ami sure that they were going to get every State in agreement, lie questioned the wisdom of such p-ocedure and could imagine none more likely to drive iron into Germany’s soul than to suggest that Germany’s withdrawal made no idifl'eience and for the rest to formulate a document and I'equest Germany to sign on the dotted line. The object was to bring about a general agreement, and the only way to reach it was by negotiation—not by a method of shots at long range. Germany was not a target for dictation; she was a partner in the discussion. TENT ATT VE .SUGGEST! ON S In recent weeks a number of tentative suggestions had arisen on the German side. Sir John Simon referred to the speech by Herr Hitler before, the elections and to the more recent interview with him in a great French newspaper, which called for the most considered examination by all seeking peace and reconciliation. lie wished to acknowledge tho fact that Italy had made a most valuable contribution towards an agreement. There had been some very strongly phrased declarations made by tho head of the Italian Government, but the Italian Government authorised their representatives to explain that Italy was not seeking to avoid continuance of llio good work of the conference, hut was anxious to co-operak-. with tho rest.

In tho same, way, it was made clear that, the French Government would not assume a rigid position. By good feeling, good sense, and complete friendly co-operation, there had been that unanimity on procedure which was an essential preliminary to an agreement on the substance. Sir John Simon said the Government had made it plain to the French Government that if it could see its way to enter into closer communication with the German Government it would havo Britain’s complete goodwill in so doing. It had indicated to the German Government that tho whole British influence would lie used in trying to bring about a spirit of negotiation and co-operative action, instead of keeping Germane at a distance. The draft conventoin still held the field at Geneva.

Captain A. Eden said the disarmament situation was such that greater energy than ever must bo exerted to carry through tho work of the conference. Support of the League was to-day, he trusted, and would always be, a cardinal feature of tho British foreign policy.