ARMAMENTS PROBLEM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 7

ARMAMENTS PROBLEM

THE FRENCH. ATTITUDE REPLY TO GERMANY •NO Dili LOT NEGOTIATIONS

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.)

LONDON, Dcr, 28.

The, Daily Mail's l’aris correspondent says that the discussion on Germany’s demand for armaments occupied the greater part of a 4j hours’ mooting of the Cabinet. The majority of the Ministers were greatly perturbed, hut decided that negotiations must he strictly limited to the embassies.

M. Ohantemps subsequently stated that France was prepared, as always, to make positive proposals for disarmament which would prove her desire for peace. It is understood that M. Boncour’s dispatch to M. Boncet emphasises: (1) That Germany is asking for armaments, which is out of place at a disarmament conference; (2) that she has already taken stops to make many of the proposals actual facts; and (3) that France refuses to enter into negotiations which are not shared by the Bowers concerned.

M. Hymans conferred with M. Bononni'. and they agreed on the necessity for Franco-Belgian unity on disarmament and foreign policy. The Morning Bust's correspondent says that while Lite Cabinet decided that, Herr Hitler’s proposals are unacceptable, it is understood that counter proposals envisaging progressive reductions of armaments to the level of those the Reich prepared were approved. The Cabinet decided that it was impossible to accept a non-aggression pact superseding the Locarno pact, and also affirmed that the integral maintenance of German auxiliary formations is inadmissible.

NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEM FOR LEAGUE MR. HENDERSON’S REVIEW LONDON, Dec. 28.

Mr. A. Henderson, in an article m the Nineteenth Century, discusses the possibility of a world agreement, which would strengthen national security, and improve political relationships. He says that Britain should not reject any constructive proposals for strengthening the League, but should welcome any suggestions to secure the permanent co-operation of the United States and the Soviets with the League. The primary need is a bold policy to make tho existing treaty obligations a reality. The policy of scrapping the collective peace system is impossible. The system must be made to work. If wo refuse risks and sacrifices in the interests of peace we shall not 1m practising safety first, hut moving towards Armageddon. Tho basic risk Britain must take is in regard to armaments. If a new race in armaments began it would overshadow the possibility of a breakdown of the collective peace system. Bigger armaments will not give peace, therefore it is only common sense, even at the present late hour, to seek a progressive reduction of armaments.

FRANCO-GERMAN PACT

ENGLISH SUGGESTION OBSTACLE IN THE WAY LONDON, Doc. IS. Publicity is being given throughout Germany to a leader in the Times suggesting a pact between France and ■Germany. Such a suggestion is being discussed as being in line with Herr Hitler’s declaration when Germany left the Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations in October —that Germany was willing to sign arms agreements, provided they did not dishonor the Fatherland. It is maintained, however, that a Franco-German pact would have to supersede the Locarno provisions restricting Germany's sovereignty in the Rhineland.

The fact emerges from the recent talks that Italy considers that the traditional Auglo-Italian friendship must, be preserved. The Italians welcome the Christmas visit of the British Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, as affording him an opportunity to meet Signor Mussolini, especially in view of French reluctance to support .the Fascist suggestions for re-forming the League of Nations.

The Daily Mail’s political correspondent says that the Government will be urged to stato Britain’s disarmament policy before Christmas. He quotes otherwise unsupported rumors that Sir John Simon may resign if his Continental conversations are fruitless, because he keenly feels the continued disarmament deadlock. Emphasising that French opinion is growing more suspicious of Germany hourly, and consequently Franco is more on its guard, the Paris correspondent of the Times declares that the idea of a Franco-German non-aggression pact is beyond the hounds of possibility in the existing state of affairs. Any Government advocating such a step while the country is in its present mood would be overthrown.