VITAL MEETINGS AT BRUSSELS

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 5

VITAL MEETINGS AT BRUSSELS

Leading Statesmen Of Europe

SOLUTION OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS SOUGHT

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received April 21, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 20. For the time being Brussels has become the pivot of the world’s affairs and the Prime Minister of Belgium (Dr Paul van Zeeland) is simultaneously the outstanding European statesman. The German Minister of National Economy (Dr Hjalmar Schacht) has already gone to Brussels; the British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) departs for Brussels next Monday; and Mr Norman Davis, the United States Ambassador-at-Large, soon afterwards. Mr Eden will participate in vital conversations about Dr van Zeeland’s mission, which is to report to the world on the freeing of international trade by a lowering of tariff barriers. British official quarters say that it is too early to anticipate a world economic conference in the autumn, but they believe that if any man today is able to give a lead in solving the world’s economical problems that man is Dr van Zeeland, whom Whitehall couples with the Prim ? Minister of France (M. Leon Blum) as head and shoulders over the other European statesmen.

GERMAN TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND

MR NASH DISCUSSES POSSIBILITIES

LONDON, April 19.

An increase in reciprocal trade was discussed by the New Zealand Minister of Finance and Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) with the representatives of the German Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economics. In welcoming Mr Nash an official of the Foreign Office said he was glad, of the opportunity to discuss the principles of a possible trade agreement. New Zealand had the goods that Germany needed and Germany would welcome a reciprocal arrangement. Mr Nash said he hoped it would be possible to assist world peace by cooperation with Germany and other nations. This objective could be brought closer by the extension of trade arrangements. SCANDINAVIAN NATIONS CO-OPERATE NUCLEUS FOR REDUCTION IN ARMAMENTS OSLO, April 19. The Norwegian Foreign Minister (Dr Halvdan Koht) announced that an agreement had been reached under which Scandinavian countries would exchange information about defence programmes, the intention being to create a nucleus of those nations who really desire a reduction in armaments.

HERR HITLER’S 48th BIRTHDAY

BERLIN, April 19. At the celebration of his 48th birthday Herr Hitler presented 90 flags to army, navy and air force units, after which he' watched a march past.