DISARMAMENT PROSPECT

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 5

DISARMAMENT PROSPECT

BRITAIN MORE HOPEFUL

COMMON FORCE PROPOSAL

OPPOSITION BY BRITISH

THE POWER OF PARLIAMENT

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.

London, November 6.

The prospect of something being accomplished at the Disarmament Conference is now regarded more hopefully at .Whitehall.

M. Paul Boncour, French Minister of War, added nothing new to the previous knowledge when he partially explained the French plan, but German opinion again reacted favourably. It is unlikely that the full text of the French plan will be communicated before the end of the week, or that it can be discussed before the meeting of the general committee of the League called for November 21, but which is liable to be postponed. The British Cabinet is engaged in a comprehensive survey for the guidance of Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary. The Observer says there is no reason to expect any change in the British opposition to all schemes of so-called internationalisation of aircraft or any other armaments.

Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery and Mr. F. E. Guest, backed by 40 members of the House of Commons, are tabling a motion that the House is entitled to be consulted before further disarmament is arranged.

“SHOULD IRE-DEPINE POLICY”

BRITISH OPINION ON AIRCRAFT.

“HEAVY ARMAMENTS SHOULD GO.”

Ree. 10 p.m. London, Nov. 7. It is urgently necessary that the Cabinet should re-define the British policy regarding aerial disarmament, as unanimity within the Government has not yet been achieved, says the political correspondent of the Daily. Telegraph. There is strong opposition to complete abolition of all fighting aircraft, as it considered it would entail undue risks and would unduly restrict civil aviation. Meanwhile British objections to placing at the disposal of the League heavy armaments such as guns, tanks and bombing aeroplanes remain unabated. Experts ask if a unanimous decision of the League council will be necessary before they are used under Article 16; if so such armaments become useless as unanimity could never be achieved in the event of conflict between two great Powers. British opinion holds that heavy armaments ought be banned altogether, not merely left in etore.