BRITAIN’S EXAMPLE TO WORLD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19627, 23 October 1933, Page 7

BRITAIN’S EXAMPLE TO WORLD

LED IN REDUCTION OF ARMS GRAVE DANGER OF SCARE MONGERING British Official Wireless RUGBY, October 20. Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India, speaking at Chelsea, said during the past few days there had been very disturbing events in Europe. There were scare-makers, who wanted to make everyone believe we were on the verge of a great European war. We had to keep to facts, and the facts were that Britain had set an example of disarmament, incessantly pursued the policy of peace, and made the most practical proposals for a general reduction of armaments and the restoration of equality of status to Germany. In this matter the Cabinet was fully unanimous. The Minister added: “We shall continue to proceed on these lines, and carry out treaty obligations. There is no cause for panic, but need for cool heads and commonsense.” The publication of a White Paper containing the full account of the proceedings of the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva, provides an answer to the suggestions made by Germany that Sir John Simon misrepresented the course of the conversations between the Powers, which preceded the meeting. It was as rapporteut, and at the request of Mr Henderson, that Sir John Simon indicated the main trend of the suggestions made in these conversations, for amending the British draft, for achieving an agreed Convention. The account of the conversations given by Sir John Simon is fully endorsed by the other delegates. Mr Norman Davis (United States), in the course of his brief statement, confirmed Sir John Simon’s account, and gave his full support to the statement he made, emphasising that his Government had taken up the position that the Disarmament Convention could not possibly be made an Instrument for re-armlng, and that qualitative equality of armaments should primarily be sought through a reduction of the armaments of heavilyarmed Powers, and not through action on the part of others to attempt to build up. The Italian delegate, Signor Di Soragna, endorsed the statement and expressed hope and confidence that the world, as did Italy, would find in the programme outlined by Sir John Simon, a basis for subsequent work.. The Belgian delegate (M. Bourquin) also declared that it was absolutely essential that the efforts of the Conference should not end In re-arm-ament. He was convinced that the first stage, such as contemplated, was indispensable in the present state of affairs, as it would give experience in the working of the Convention. As to the length of the first period, M. Boncour (France) indicated that a period of four years was based on a number of considerations, to which the French delegation attached great importance.