COLONIES BEFORE CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 5

COLONIES BEFORE CONFERENCE

Germany’s Attitude Indicated BRITISH CABINET TO DISCUSS GESTURE NEED FOR PREPARATION EMPHASIZED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 21, 10.45 p.m ) LONDON, April 21. Official German circles assert that Mr George Lansbury read too much positive optimism into Herr Hitler s statement about his readiness to take part in a world conference, says the Berlin correspondent of the News Chronicle. They emphasize that Herr Hitler has always maintained, and made it clear to Mr Lansbury, that “Germany will never participate in a world conference that is not well prepared and the success of which is not assured.’ Moreover, Germany has no intention of going to a round table conference, however distinguished, before the colonial question is cleared up to her satisfaction, say the officials. The British Cabinet is. expected to discuss the gesture arising from Mr Lansbury’s interview with Herr Hitler at today’s meeting, but the Australian Associated Press understands that no immediate development is expected. The opinion is expressed that it would be fatal to convene a conference until everyone was ready to make a contribution. It is emphasized that Germany thus far has done nothing to suggest that she is ready for such co-operation. Mr Lansbury’s visit to Berlin has roused no enthusiasm in France, where the Press sums up the position by saying: “If Herr Hitler wants, a conference why doesn’t he call one?” The results of Mr Lansbury s conversation will be examined by the British Government, but it is recognized that most careful preparation would be necessary before any such project as that contemplated could be set on foot and that such a conference should only meet with the clearest conception on all sides of what it was hoped to accomplish. . The Daily Herald says: “The real problem at the moment is not , the assembly of such a conference; it is to get international relations to such an improved point that the conference, having met, would be successful, for failure would be a fatal setback to reviving the forces of peace. The world disarmament conference and the world economic conference, serve as warnings of how easy failure is.”

ROOSEVELT DENIES PLANS

NO INTENTION OF CALLING CONFERENCE (Received April 21, 10.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 21. The President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) disclaimed any present intention of calling a world conference on trade and disarmament. JAPAN PREPARED TO TAKE PART WORLD ECONOMIC CONFERENCE (Received April 22, 12.20 a.m.) TOKYO, April 21. It is understood that the Government is willing to participate in a world economic conference. FRENCH FRIENDSHIP WITH BRITAIN M. DALADIER’S VISIT TO MANCHESTER (British Official Wireless) (Received April 21, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 20. The French Minister of Defence (M. Edouard Daladier) is visiting Britain to attend a reception and banquet organized in Manchester by a society interested in the promotion of AngloFrench friendship and cultural relations. While passing through London M. Daladier will lunch with the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden).