TRAGIC DOCUMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20556, 6 March 1935, Page 1

TRAGIC DOCUMENT.

Viscount Snowden’s View of White Paper. LONDON*. March 5. “The most tragic document since the Great War,” was Viscount Snowden’s comment after hearing a broadcast of Mr MacDonald’s statement concerning the increase in the Army Estimates. Viscount Snowden remarked, “The excuse that Germany is responsible for our increased armaments is terrible, coming on the eve of Sir John Simon’s going to Berlin. “The whole document might have been drawn up by the French Foreign Office. Great Britain’s subservience to Fraqce has led us into one war and seems likely to lead us into another” A message from Paris states that the publication of the White Paper is regarded as significant in view of Sir John Simon’s Berlin visit and also as corresponding with French defence measures. It is hoped that Germany will rightl\- read the writing on the wall. “The Times,” in a leading article, says, “The necessity for defence increases is proved. The foundation for limiting armaments. despite three years’ efforts, has not yet been laid. Sir John Simon’s and Mr R. A. Eden’s negotiations afford the best prospects for establishing a system that will result in a diminution of national contingencies. Negotiations should be conducted in order to obtain a settlement acceptable to all. Great Britain still proclaims her confidence in the ultimate triumph of peaceful efforts.” The “Daily Herald’’ says. “The armaments race is on. Mr MacDonald and his colleagues justify it with precisely the sort of arguments that Hitler and Goering use in Germany. Mr MacDonald dismisses the international machinery for maintaining peace as unreliable. Thus Mr MacDonald attempts to frighten the British people into condoning the policy which led to the World War.”