GOOD PROGRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 7

GOOD PROGRESS

RHINELAND DISCUSSIONS “BIG SIX” MEET PRIVATELY ( By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright } [ Australian Press A«s u . | GENEVA, Sept. 13. A meeting of representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Japan, which was heli this morning in Lord Cushendun’j apartments, to discuss the Rhineland evacuation question occupied two and a-half hours Afterwards Lord Cushendun’s secretary informed the Press representatives that all aspects of the question had been fully examined and would be further considered next Sunday. M. Briand is leaving for Paris to-day to attend a Cabinet meeting, but will be back in Geneva on Saturday. it is hoped that >» basis for discussion may be found during the weekend that will enable negotiations to be continued through diplomatic channels in the coming weeks. It is authoritatively learned that the Rhineland discussions have taken a more definite and more promising t-—n, in which there is good reason to believe •'t Lord Cushendun is playing a great part. Also, T nee is beginning to realise that the longer she dallies with Germany’s claim for earlier evacuatior based on the Locarno and Paris pacts, the more she is weakening her bargaining asset. Herr Mueller did not submit a plan at to-day’s private meeting of the “Big Six,” but other proposals brought the matter down from the realm of airy discussion to the stage of examining suggestions which are ealcuZitcd to expedite a definite projt t for an early quittance of the second zone. When the conference resgmes on Sunday, it will probably bo found that the “Big Six” are prepared to nominate their experts for the speedy examination of the financial aspects of the problem. It will not be surprising if from the proposal there emerges something in the nature of a Locar o Commission of Military Control, which, while giving France greater security on the eastern frontier, will comfort German feelings by including France herself.

All this has created a more hopeful atmosphere for the solution of one of the greatest obstacles to disarmament.