PEACE MISSION

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 5

PEACE MISSION

DELEGATES AT STRESA

BRITISH LEADERS’ HOPES

NOT LACKING A POLICY

SIR J. SIMON’S WARNING

COLLECTIVE SECURITY

British Wireless. Rugby, April 10. It is anticipated at London that the three-Power conference will have completed its business by the week-end. Mr. Ramsay McDonald hopes to be able to fly back from Stresa in time to hear the Budget speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, but Sir John Simon will proceed to Geneva to attend a special meeting of the League Council.

“It would be incorrect to assume that the British Government has no policy,” said Sir John Simon. “It has always been understood that the main purpose of the Stresa conference is to collect the views of the British, French and Italian Governments in the light of the impressions gained by the British Ministers as to the best methods of assuring the maintenance of peace in Europe in circumstances created by recent developments, chief among which is the rearmament of Germany.”

Sir John Simon at the conclusion of his statement issued a special warning that no inferences should be drawn from unauthorised comments and pronouncements in the British newspapers. The influential section of the British Press was firmly convinced that the British people would be prepared to support the line indicated by Mr. Stanley Baldwin in his speech on Monday, to the effect that the British Government was considering the best possible method of establishing a system of collective security inside the League of Nations.

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.

The News-Chronicle believes that Britain should put herself unreservedly behind strengthening of the covenant and more precise sanctions under article 16, and should attempt at the time an exact understanding on limitation of armaments.

The Manchester Guardian also favours precision on the principle of collective security in a system remaining open to the participation of Germany. It adds: "The Governments represented at Stresa are unanimous in one thing at least—that the European situation is grave and that no time should be lost in facing and endeavouring to meet its obvious dangers. This is certainly the view of the British Government, especially of the Prime Minister himself, who has of late been most explicit on this point, and it is no small matter that he himself is going to Stresa.”

The Prime Minister and Sir John Simon flew in a two-engined service aeroplane from Hendon to Le Bourget, Paris, this afternoon. There they" were joined by Sir Robert Vansittart and other members of the British delegation. Before leaving the Prime Minister said: “We are starting on our mission of international goodwill, co-operation, united security and peace. I hope with all my heart that we shall be successful. We shall certainly try to be.” Signor Mussolini arrived at Stresa piloting a three-engined seaplane from Milan. It is understood that while the main conference is proceeding African experts will discuss the Abyssinia problem.

Signor Mussolini cordially welcomed M. Flandin and M. Laval, French Premier and Foreign Minister respectively, at the railway station and accompanied them to their hotel.

SCENE OF CONFERENCE

CASTLE ON ISOLA BELLA

TARANAKI WOMAN’S VISIT

There are, states a Taranaki woman who resided for some years in Italy, three islets in Lake Maggiore not far from the village of Stresa. The nearest to the mainland is Isola Bella, where the momentous conference is to be held. A little further away lies Isola Pesca--tore, a long, narrow islet where there are some picturesque houses and restaurants, and further out still Isola Maria, a privately owned estate. The castle on Isola Bella is a large building built quite close to’’the waterfront, the entrance being a few yards from the landing place. The front of the castle has never been completed, but the building contains many handsome rooms, some of them with beautifully painted ceilings and others with many ornate decorations. The room in which the conference is to be held is a large salon and there are other rooms adjoining that could be used as extensions to the salon if this were required. The castle is owned by Prince Borromeo, but the family stays at the castle only a few months in the year. It is thrown open to the public, except the rooms reserved for the use of the Prince and his household, and there are some famous pictures to be seen. Many historic personages have stayed at the castle. Napoleon rested there for a day and a night when he held an important consultation, and princes ’ and kings of England and of other European countries have been guests there. Behind the castle buildings there is a beautiful terraced garden. From the wall of the garden the visitor can look straight down into Lake Maggiore, which has been known to flood the lower portion of the castle when melted snow has unduly raised the level of the water. The garden is very charming, rather stiff in design, but with peacocks strutting about and beautiful fle .ers, and with the lake as a background it makes a magnificent outlook from the castle. In one portion there is a section devoted to trees from all parts of the world. Even New Zealand trees can be seen there, and the collection is regarded with much satisfaction by its owner. Leaving the castle by a side exit the visitor finds himself in a tiny hamlet of quaint cottages and restaurants, to visit which, or the neighbouring islet Pescatore, is a pleasant excursion from Stresa. That township has hitherto been quite an insignificant item among the many beautiful lakeside villages Italy possesses, but the conference may alter all that!