Arms Conference Proposed

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 5

Arms Conference Proposed

mussolini's plan Opinion Generally In Oppositfon BRITAIN NOT AGREEABLE (Reeeived 27, 8.45 a.m.) WASHINGTQN, May 26, Signor Muwolini's sppeal to Prssidsnt fiooMvelt to c»U a world Arwa-U»ltation Conference wai reoeired with marked coldness. Fresidant *oo«evelt signified his unreadiness to eomment by saylng he had not seen the appeal. Othtr officisls ssid R wa? nnlikely th*t Prwidipt Eooapvtlt would act beoauie of adviees recently reeeived from Britain that she was not interested in an arms conference and intends to proceed with her bnilding progrsmme, It is definitely understood hers that Britain. will not agree to participate tmtil her rearmament is completefl. Britain pointed out that she wa? not mly committed to her programme in policy but had also made financial comenitments. The impression prewailed in some dip» lomatic circles that Signor Mussolini was hopeful of arms limitation in order to eurt&il British rearmament which he largely stimulated by the conquest of Etbiopia, In such circumstenees, diplo* mats ara convinced that Britain wiH not consent to a conference. Qfficials espTessed the view that the United States will not wove for a world conference on econoraic or any impurtant subjects nntil the Imperial Conference coneludes, and Britain determines her position regarding such questions.