DISARMAMENT POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 108, 9 May 1934, Page 7

DISARMAMENT POLICY

GREATER VIGOUR URGED HOUSE OF LORDS OPINIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 7. In the House of Lords Lord Ponsonby moved urging the Government to adopt a more vigorous policy with regard to disarmament in the Far East. He said that our submission to the Japanese demands had had an unfortunate effect throughout the world. The Government was behaving like a small Power of negligible influence and incapable of bold initiative. Lord Cecil said that he had not seen any country anxious to break the peace with the conceivable exception of Japan. In view of her ambiguous policy during the past two years he did not believe that it would break out in war, but it had reached a critical issue as to whether she intended to revert to pre-war international relations. The Government’s policy regarding the League was insufficiently vigorous. Lord .Stanhope, in reply, eaid that Britain could not take isolated action beyond what the League was prepared to do. The Government would continue to take the lead at Geneva as long as there was a vestige of hope for a disarmament convention. They had naturally accepted Japan’s definite assurance that she intended to abire by the Nfrie-Power Treaty and the open door in China. Lord Ponsonby withdrew his motion.

SAAR COMMISSION

STARTLING RUMOURS Received M: • s. 11.55 p.m. GENEVA, May 8. Mr. Knox t president of the Saar Commission, in a report to the League Council, speaks openly of the menace of a German coup de main, rumours whereof are reaching him frequently from the most varied sources. There is reason to fear that -some of the rumours may not be figments of imagination.