EXPORT OF ARMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 11

EXPORT OF ARMS

BRITAIN'S LEAD TO POWERS British Official Wireless RUGBY, July 24. Following the announcement by the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, in the House of Commons, that the Italian Government would enact the necessary measures to prevent the export of war material destined for Paraguay and Bolivia from Italian territory, the British Government, which has suspended all licenses since May 9, has sent a telegram to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations saying that the British Government was now prepared to enforce the complete suspension of the export of all arms and war materials, including consignments under licenses before May 9, but before taking this action, it suggested that a telegram be despatched to all interested governments Inquiring if they will now put the embargo into force without reservations, if possible before the end of this month. “The Times,” in a leader, says: The action of Italy should be decisive and the Bill of Great Britain passed in May to prevent the export of arms to this conflict, which only subsists with weapons from abroad, seems likely to produce effective results. Certain countries, including Great Britain, the United States, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland, have taken action without waiting for a complete general agreement, and it is now to be hoped that the remainder, who had agreed in the principle to impose an embargo, would now come in.

“The first international experiment in collective action for preventing war by withholding the means to wage it,” says “The Times,” “is fairly on its trial.”