GRAVE SITUATION IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19669, 11 December 1933, Page 7

GRAVE SITUATION IN EUROPE

MACHINERY OF PEACE MAY COLLAPSE MR HENDERSON'S MANY ACTIVITIES British Official Wireless (Received December 10, 6.30 p.m.» RUGBY, December 9. The disarmament question was discussed when Mr Arthur Henderson (chairman of the Disarmament Conference), called at the Foreign Office for a meeting with Sir John Simon (Minister of Foreign Affairs). In pursuance of the policy approved by the Bureau of the Conference, In Geneva last month exchanges are taking place through diplomatic channels in various European capitals, in an effort to advance the work of the Conference. In an interview. Mr Henderson took a grave view of the present situation. He said the whole collective peace system was in danger but he expressed the hope that the exchanges now taking place through diplomatic channels, would make an international agreement possible. The secretary-general of the League of Nations, M. Avenol, is leaving Geneva, and after a short «tay in Paris, during which he will meet M. Paul-Boncour (French Foreign Minister), he will proceed to London on Sunday. Sir John Simon will be host at a Government luncheon to M. Avenol at the House of Commons on Monday. DEFENCE OF THE LEAGUE. FRENCH ATTITUDE DEFINED. Tel egrapH—Copyright United Presa Association—By Electric PARIS, December 8. M. Paul-Boncour categorically informed the Chamber of Deputies that the League will remain the basis of international negotiations, adding: “I shall oppose any attempt to create hegemony within the League. All our ententes and pacts are indissolubly bound up in the League mechanism." FRENCH REPLY TO NAZIS DEMAND FOR EQUALITY RESENTED United Pleas Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 10. 6.30 pan.) PARIS, December 10. “Pertinax” in the "Echo de Paris,” says: “M. Poncet has been instructed to tell Herr Hitler, that the latter's demands on armaments equality are not capable of leading to a frank agreement on disarmament.