LEADERS IN CONCLAVE.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18930, 27 April 1933, Page 7

LEADERS IN CONCLAVE.

FRANCE AND SECURITY.

HUB OF THE SITUATION.

DISARMAMENT ISSUE.

United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright.

WASHINGTON, April 25

Economic questions temporarily retreated into the background to-day, political ones taking,their place in the White House conversations. It is stated to-night that the French now’ hold the key position as concerns the tentative understandings reached in the past few days. The question of French security to-night is the hub of the situation.

Although the French delegates denied that there was any truth in the alleged pact with Poland not to agree to l a revision of treaties, it is known that the special position of France in the discussions and in all the possible approaches to an agreement < here, is that of national security. There is hope that some method 'has been found ef reconciling France’s position with that of Britain and the United States. It seems to be indicated that one of two things has happened, namely, that either Mr MacDonald’s draft of a consultative pact, announced on March 16, has been made acceptable to the French for various domestic reasons, or that it has been modified in some way by Mr Roosevelt to meet French desires. Possibly this has been done by a mild form of security agreement which would take the shape of embargo on “any” nation whioh attacks France. ' Effect of Economic Pressure. It is argued that the natural economic pressure from the accumulated effects of the world depression is doing more than all the statesmen in the world have been able to do to make France co-operate in political matters. The French delegates, it is said, are now asking how far can Mr Roosevelt go toward assuring the acceptance by Congress of any form of security agreement. Mr MacDonald, M. Herriot and Mr Roosevelt dined informally at White House this evening and after further conversations received members of the Foreign Relations Committees of both Houses of Congress. It is understood that M. Herriot explained the 1 practical impossibility of France agreeing to general disarmament without some adequate system of control. To the American objections that such control should be undertaken by the of Nations .it is reported that M. Herriot pointed out that under the present procedure a negative vote of a member suspected of secretly accumulating arms could stop ■any investigation. Mr Roosevelt is prepared for a continuance of his talks with M.' Herriot and there is a growing possibility that the road to disarmament may be smoothed by an anti-war consultative pact in which the United States would join.

Shaping the Polloy.

The political correspondent of the New York Times says: Whether Mr Roosevelt’s ideas or those of Mr MacDonald have predominated in the recent discussions cannot be learned, i but it is probable that both had’ definite parts in shaping a policy which they felt France would accept.

While the British delegates are not quite as buoyantly optimistic to-night as they were yesterday, they give every indication of being satisfied with the way things are going. War debts were discussed to-day, but it was said that no nation would prejudice the many other important issues merely for the debt question. That a basis for debt settlement, however, Is being sought seemed to be implied In spite of the reticence of those who know what occurred around the conference tables.