WORLD’S PROBLEMS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 3

WORLD’S PROBLEMS

SITUATION IN EUROPE. FRANCE AND GERMANY. Colombo, Dec. 4 Though he thinks the international situation is unsatisfactory, it is far removed from war, said the former British Ambassador/ at Berlin, Sir Horace Rumbold who arrived here to-day with his wife and daughter, on a holiday. Insisting that he was giving only his personal views, Sir Horace said he was convinced that the French were profoundly pacifist, and that the Germans did not want war. The Germans had no heavy artillery, tanks, or a large air force, which discounted the reports of secret arming. War talk in the European press was mischevious. k Sir Horace said he regarded Herr Hitler’s request for the return of the Saar as an invitation to France to show her goodwill. There was a possibility of the 1935 Saar plebiscite favouring Germany. Asked if he supported Lord Rothermere’s plea for a huge air fleet as the best form of insurance for, the Empire, Sir Horace said there was another form that had not appealed to Lord Rothermere, namely, confidence. Swollen armaments undermined confidence, and led to war and bankruptcy. Asked whether the trade competion of Japan was not full of explosive possibilities, Sir Horace replied that wars did not solve commercial problems, it created new ones. A Japanese expert had agreed a few days ago that this was one of the most complicated problems which Eurnne had tn fano