DISARMAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 8

DISARMAMENT

MEETIIG WITH GERMANS SIR ERIC DRUMMOND BERLIN, April 2. Sir Eric Drummnd, Secretary General of the League of Nations, has had interviews during his visit to Berlin with both Dr Curtius, the Foreign Minister, and the Chancellor, Dr Bruning. It is quite usual that the Secretary General should discuss the agenda of a meeting of the League Council with its president, and Dr Curtius will be president at the approaching Council in May. But there was also the preparation of the Department Conference to discuss, and Sir Eric has discussed with the German Government the constitution of the preparatory committee which should deal with technical questions before the Conference. There is some prospect that Dr Benes, the Czecho-Slovakian Foreign Minister, may preside over such a preparatory committee, but this does not mean that Dr Benes’ chances of presiding over the Conference itself in February will be increased. Indeed, Dr Benes’ unfortunate speech on the Austro-Geiman Customs Union has so far increased the German opposition to his pifsidcncy, which was in any case opposed on the ground of his subservience to French interests, that it is now completely out of the question if German withdrawal from the Conference is to be avoided. I understand that two preparatory committee would consist of only two or three members, who would co operate with the secretariat in ihe technical preparations of the Conference,! but who would not travel, as was at one time suggested, from capital to capital. It was apparently ihe British view that the committee should i online its activities to tecunica-. work, and that the exchange of poli 1- cal opinion should take place through the ordinary diplomatic channels. Dr Curtius informed Sir Eric that the German Government has prepared blank tables, which arc now leady to be submitted to the Council, to ensure that full publicity of existh.g arma meats should be given by every Government before the Conference.