FRANCE’S POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1933, Page 5

FRANCE’S POSITION

SECURITY SOUGHT

NEGOTIATING WITH AMERICA.

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, April 25

The economic questions have momentarily retreated to the background to-day, and political ones are taking their place.

It wa s said to-night that the French now hold the key position as concerns the tentative understandings that have been reached during the past few days. To-night the question of French security is the hub of tho situation. Although the French delegation have denied that there is any truth in an alleged Warsaw non-treaty revision pact, it is known that the special position of Franco in the discussions, and in all of the possible approaches to an agreement here, is that of national security. There is the hope that some method has been found here of reconciling France’s position with that of Britain and the United States. It seems to be indicated to-night that one of two things has happened. First, either the MacDonald consultative peace draft, announced cm March -1.6 th., has been made acceptable to the French, for various domestic reason's; or it has been modified in some way bv President Roosevelt so as to meet the French desires —posibly by the mild form of a security agreement, which will tr.ke the shape of an gmbargo on “any” nation attacking France. It is argued that the neutral economic pressure from the accumulated effects of the world depression is ...oing more- than all of the statesmen of the world have been able to do to matters. The French here, it is said, are now asking how far can President Roosevelt go in assuring the Congressional acceptance of any form of a -security agreement. Mr MacDonald, M. Herriot and President Roosevelt dined informally at White House to-night, and, following 'on conversations, they received the members of the United States Foreign Relations Committees of both Houses of Con gross.' It U understood that M. Herriot explained how it was a practical impossibility lor France to agree to general disarmament without some adequate- system ;of control. To American objections, that -such control should be made by the League of Nations, it is reported, M. Herriot pointed' out "that, under J the present procedure, the negative vote of any League m'eniber suspected of secretly accumulating fU’hLs ccllld strtp arty Investigation.' For nearly three hours last night, president Roosevelt sought, with the former Premier of Franco, M, Herriot. a (preliminary understanding upon pressing problems of world monetary standards, exchange restrictions, and disarmament. The two engaged in discussions upon much the same topics a s " those talked over with deep satisfaction during the American-Britisb conversations. M. Herriot left White House shortly before midnight, stating that President Roosevelt had laid down a complete programme, inclucl ing disarmament, world economic stabilisation. and war debt revision.

President Roosevelt has prepared for a., continuance of his talks with M. Harriot, of France, with a growing possibility that the road to disarmament may be smoothed by an anti-war consultative pact, in which tbs United States would join.