LEAGUE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19176, 6 December 1927, Page 11

LEAGUE COUNCIL.

STATESMEN AT GENEVA.

IMPORTANT INFORMAL

DISCUSSIONS

(BI CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December oth, 9.15 p.m.)

GENEVA, December 4

At least twenty visits wore exchanged between the various European statesmen who have arrived to attend the preliminary meeting of the League Council Lord Cushendun left for London after Sir Austen Chamberlain had arrived. The latter lunched with M. Briand, and it is understood that they discussed the possibility of a rapprochement between France and Italy, a question which has been exercising the delegates in Geneva, though happier relations are foreshadowed in Signor Mussolini's recent statement. It is stated that M. Briand said today that he was willing to meet Signor Mussolini on the frontier if the latter was unable to come to Geneva. After lunch. M. Briand met M. Litvinoff at the latter's request, and Jintl an hour's personal talk. It is reported that M. Litvinoff brought up the question debts to France and French industrial credits to Russia. Ho also urged M. Briand to prevent Marshal Pilsndski from pursuing an aggressive policy towards Lithuania. It is reported that M. Litvinoff also revived the proposal for a lion-aggression pact between Russia and France, which M. Briand intimated the French Government, wouH consider. Ho further asked M. Briand to use his influence t-o restore friendly relations between Russia and Britain.

Thus far, M. Litvinoff has failed to ni ancßUvre . a meeting with Sir Austen Chamberlain, which is now regarded as most unlikely, as M. Litvinoff leaves for Moscow to-morrow, when the Swiss Government's offer of police protection expires.

DISARMAMENT. COMMISSION'S NEXT MEETING. (AUSTEALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) GENEVA, December 4M. Litvinoff (Russia) declared that March was too distant a date, demanded that the Disarmament Commission meet on January 10th. It should not be dependent on the Security Committee's meeting. Count BeVnstorff (Germany) supported him, stating that his Government was anxious for a Disarmament Conference m 1928.

Lord Cushendun (England) opposed the suggestion. Tho Commission has fixed the security meeting for February 20th, and the Commission was meeting on March 15th in London. It was pointed out that some of M Litvinoff's figures, given on Novembor 30th, wero incorrect.