TALKS CONCLUDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 7

TALKS CONCLUDED

BRITAIN AND FRANCE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE EUROPEAN PROBLEMS I AGREEMENT ON POLICY [ British Official Wireless ] RUGBY, April 29. A communique issued at the conclusion of the Anglo-French talks states that during their visit to London MM. Daladier and Bonnet have had a number of conversations with Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Lord Halifax and jot her British Ministers, in the course !of which they have discussed in the spirit of mutual confidence which inspires the relations between the two countries the principal questions which at present affect the maintenance of peace. The French and British Ministers reviewed the results of the conversations between the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) and the British Ambassador in Rome (Lord Perth) as embodied in the recent agreement. The French Ministers welcomed this contribution to European appeasement. The British Ministers on their part expressed the hope that the conversations which the French Government has opened with the Italian Government will lead to equally satisfactory results. The French and British Ministers were of opinion that appeasement in the Mediterranean which would result from these agreements would contribute to the entry into force of the resolution of November 4 last by the Non-Intervention Committee for the withdrawal from Spain of the foreign I participants in the civil war and would facilitate the conclusion of agreements for the withdrawal of war material. Central Europe and Far East They devoted close attention to the situation in Central Europe, and found themselves in general agreement on action that might most usefully be taken to find a useful and equitable settlement of problems arising in that area. They also touched on certain questions relating to the situation in the Far East and discussed questions which appear on the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations. The two Governments decided to continue, as might be necessary, the contacts between their General Staffs. As a result of the very frank and full discussion which took place it was once again recognised that France and Britain are bound together by close community of interests, and the French and British Ministers agreed that it is therefore of the highest importance in the present circumstances for the two Governments to continue and develop the policy of consultation and ‘ ••kiboration in the defence not only of their common interests but also of those ideals of national and ; international life which unite the two | countries. No New Commitments ! A question which loomed unnecesI sarily large in some of the Press comiments on the Anglo-French meeting, and on which the Ministers of the two Governments had no difficulty in recording agreement is that of staff contacts. At the time of the arrangement by which these contacts were established in 1936 it was made clear from the British side that they could not, and did not, constitute any new i obligation:; or commitments, and doubtless the British Ministers thought lit proper to make this point again. | Simple and straightforward as the (question is—as the communique shows i—there is danger of its being compli- ' cated by ili-formed commentary, and j it is learned that for this reason Lord Halifax thought it desirable to see [both the German and Italian diploI matic representatives in London in [order to make the position perfectly j clear. I Central Europe, and in particular Czechoslovakia, were the main subject of to-day';; conversations. The French have precise treaty obligations re- | garding Czechoslovakia, and the posi- ■ tion and interest of Britain in this same respect were described by Mr. I Chamberlain in the House of Commons on Mnrch 14. The British Ministers are understood to have again ' insisted that while being anxious and : willing when occasion requires to lend the full influence of the British Government on the side of peace, they could not assume any further commitments than those already defined in ' Mr. Chamberlain’s statement. More particularly they undertook to explore the possibility of exerting British influence in all quarters where it could be usefully exerted, with a view to discovering elements of agreement on the Sudeten question. They also agreed with the French Ministers in taking exception to a tendency noticeable in certain quarters to deny the I rightful concern of the British as well las the French Government in this ; problem. The British attitude in this i respect was made very clear by Mr. Chamberlain on March 14. FRANCE AND ITALY DISCUSSIONS BEGIN. Received May 1, 8.20 p.m. ROME, May 1. i Count Ciano returned from Tirana i and had an hour’s unexpected talk with M. Blondel. It is understood , that the Italian-French discussions | have begun and are proceeding satisfactorily.