CONVERSATIONS AT GENEVA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 5

CONVERSATIONS AT GENEVA

ECHO OF NAVAL CONFERENCE,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10 a.m.> RUGBY, May 13

Hopes are entertained here that the private conversations proceeding at Geneva will Contribute to the completion of the outstanding difficulties in Franco-Italian relations.

The light programme at the council meeting gives favourable opportunities for a formal talk between the Ministers and naturally the questions arising out of the discussions at the London Naval Conference are amongst -those, under, reference.-;»yr rv■ <- - ■

Tlie Foreign Secretary (Mr A. N Henderson)- Aylio ■' 1 1 td., conversations with” M;, ■ jn’-Pariis joir'ffife f,way to Geneva- yesterday; Iq ached ; with Signor Grandi, Who -isto-day lunching with the,French Foreign Minister. In conversation with press correspon/dents last night, Mr Henderson said he would ibe delighted if. he could contribute to a mutual understanding between France and Italy, and. expressed himself ' in, profound agreement with Signor Grandi’s recent statement that disarmament, months, could only—be settled-through the Leagiue..' rHe praised the results of the Naval Conference and spoke of the connections between its works and the work of the Preparatory Commission for disarmament. He thought-' it would have been ' unwise, to hold a meeting of the Preparatory Commission during (the- summer, and . said. It was well that it had been postponed till November. Such a delay would give -'time for fresh efforts to solve the difficulty of naval requirements, and so help to simplify the work of the Commission.