DISARMAMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 March 1933, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

DRAFT CONVENTION ;w AVOIDANCE OF WAR. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, Wednesday. It is understood that the British Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, is preparing a draft Convention embodying a prohibition "of certain war materials, and an undertaking by the signatories not to resort to force in the' settlement of international disputes. Mr MacDonald is believed to. be contemplating a convention, as wide and concrete as possible. The British spokesman declares that the adjournment of the Disarmament Conference would be useless in the present temper of Europe, “which,is visibly Regenerating. The meeting of the General Committee of the Disarmament Conference, fixed for to-day, has been postponed until Thursday in order that, the subcommittees of the conference and- certain 1 committees of the League Assembly and Council inay have as opportunity of making more rapid progress. Meanwhile, Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Sir John Simon are engaged in conversation with many leading delegates. DEFINITELY DOOMED. PARIS, Wednesday. Likening the Disarmament Conference to a casino in which even* nation is playing the game for the maintenance of its political prestige, M. Henri Berenger, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, warns France and Britain to hold on to their defensive forces; otherwise there- is no way of escaping ia conflagration., M. Berenger considers that Mr MacDonald and the French Foreign Minister, M. Paul Boneour, can achieve nothing useful for peace at the Geneva Disarmament Conference, “'which, being the hybrid daughter >of Americanism and the League of Notions, is at last forced to unveil its original sins. ’ 7 The newspapers criticise Mr MacDonald, some describing him as a gobetween in the efforts of Germany and Italy to blackmail France: They reiterate that in the face of a, united-, passionate Germany, it is impossible to reduce the only force in Europe capable of making an aggressor think twice. All the papers agree that disarmament is definitely doomed. GERMAN ATTITUDE. BERLIN, Wednesday. The British Ambassador, Sir 11. Rumbold, discussed with the Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath, the present situation, with special reference to disarmament. Baron von Neuni.ru replied that Germany’s attitude was unaltered. She expected others'-to disarm, and to be given full equality. MACDONALD AND MUSSOLINI. MEETING LIKELY. LOND ON, We-d nesd ay. •Press correspondents agree that a meeting between Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Signor Mussolini is practically certain during the week-end, probably at Stresa, in Piedmont, Italy. “The Times’/ says that a meeting is desirable, and the sooner the better. “A genuine understanding regarding present policy between the head of the Fascist State and the British Prime Minister might yet turn the activities of the Disarmament Conference into fruitful channels and prepare the way for a successful world conference.’’ MEETING ARRANGED. (Received Thursday, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Sir John Siimon will visit Signor Musolir.i at Rome on ISth March.