FRENCH SECURITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 7

FRENCH SECURITY

PROBLEM FOR WASHINGTON BIG FACTOR IN AGREEMENTS HOW TO DISARM WITH SAFETY By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright Received April 26, 8.15 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 25. Economic questions momentarily retreated to the background to-day, political ones taking their place. It was said to-night that- the French now hold the key to the position as concerns the tentative understandings reached during the past few days. The question of French security to-night is the hub of rhe situation. Although the French delegation has denied any truth of an alleged Warsaw non-revision pact, it is known that the special position of France in the discussions, and in all possible approaches to an agreement here, is that of national security. There is a hope that some method has been found here of reconciling France’s position with that of Britain and the United States. It seems indicated tonight that one of wo things has happened: First, either the MacDonald consultative peace draft announced on March 16 has been made acceptable to the French for various domestic reasons, or it has been modified in some way by Mr Roosevelt to meet French desires, possibly by a mild form of security agreement, which will take the shape of an embargo on any nation attacking France. It is argued that neutral economic pressure from the accumulated effects of the world depression, is doing more than all the statesmen of the world have been able to do to make France co-operate in political matters. The French, here, it is said, aro now asking how far can Mr Roosevelt go in assuring Congressional acceptance of any form of security agreement. Mr MacDonald, M. Herriot, and Mr Roosevelt dined informally at White House to-night, and following the conversations received members of the Foreign Relations Committee of both Houses of Congress. It is understood that M. Herriot explained the practical impossibility for France to agree to general disarmament without some adequate system of control. To the American objections that such control should be made % by the League of Nations, it is reported that M. Herriot pointed out that under the present procedure the negative vote of a member suspected of secretly accumulating arms could stop any investigation.