DISARMAMENT CRISIS

Wairarapa Age, 15 March 1934, Page 5

DISARMAMENT CRISIS

% —*— Momentous French Reply Expected REJECTION OF BRITAIN’S PROPOSALS LIKELY. RUSSIA PLAYING A BIG BOLE. SECURITY PACT MOOTED. (Received Wednesday, 10 p.m.) LONDON, March 14. There is a growing impression that the French reply to the British disarmament memorandum will be a momentous one. The French Oafoinet again discussed the matter. It is realised that the reply, as drafted, is likely to end the disarmament discussions in their present form. Therefore, a fourth Cabinet meeting is ibeing held before the terms are finally settled. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says the reply will definitely reject the British proposals. France has not only halted, but almost certainly reversed her policy of gradual disarmament. Moreover, since Great Britain seems not in a mood to eo-operate closely in foreign policy, France is looking to Borne and Moscow. The latter is reckoned here as a definite supporter of a status quo in Europe. She is thought to have strengthened her military position in Eastern Siberia sufficiently to spare energy for European affairs. This confirms the “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent who gathers that the Soviet Government is feeling itself less threatened by Japan in the Far East and aspires again to an active diplomatic role in Europe. M. Litvinoff is preparing to launch a new security plan involving a general pact of mutual assistance as well as non-aggression, to which all Powers be invited to subscribe. Moscow expects Tokio’s rejection and would use this to expose Japanese aggresmveness, while France’s adhesion would facilitate a Franco-Russian alliance against Nazi Germany, which is one of the Soviet’s aims