ARMAMENTS GUARANTEES

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1934, Page 5

ARMAMENTS GUARANTEES

ASSURANCE OF EXECUTION NEGOTIATIONS BY POWERS BRITISH CABINET ACTIVE REDRAFT OF ORIGINAL PLAN

British Wireless. Rugby, March 29. The disarmament question is still engaging the British Government’s close attention and was before the Cabinet disarmament committee to-day. It is understood special attention is being given to the subject of guarantees of the execution of any disarmament convention ultimately reached, and it is assumed that this subject is also being discussed in Paris. There Lord Tyrrell, British Ambassador, has been instructed to make certain further verbal inquiries of the French Government on matters arising out of its recent Note. Prominence also at present is given this question in view of the fact that the bureau at the last meeting appointed Mr. Arthur Henderson as rapporteur to make soundings among the governments principally concerned as to their views on guarantees. The main problems before the Disarmament Conference, however, remain, and the British Government is still exerting all its energies to secure approval of the proposals in its memorandum?' The German Government accepted it as the basis of discussion, but on three important matters dealing with air armaments, the number of effectives and Germany’s return to the League, it has raised objections. It will be the bureau’s duty to examine the views of all governments which were engaged in the recent exchanges when it meets at Geneva on April 10, and in the light of them and of Mr. Henderson’s report to make a clear draft of the original British draft convention. s Thus it is hoped to clear the grounds for further progress. It is expected that either Sir John Simon, British Foreign Secretary, or Mr. R. A. Eden, Lord Privy Seal, will attend the bureau meeting.