BRITAIN’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1933, Page 5

BRITAIN’S POLICY

ON DISARMAMENT

ENDORSED BY WAR MINISTER

. (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 19The policy of the British Government in regard to disarmament as ou.l.ned by Em* J. Simon, was warmly endorsed by Lord Hailsham (War Minister), at Liverpool. He strongly emphasised that ’Sir J. Simon's speech represented the collective views of the British Government. He had read in a press telegram from Berlin that the German Government had given official .warning <o their newspapers not to attack Brtiain as a country, but to /confine hostile comments to individual British Ministers, meaning, of course, the Foreign Secretary himself. He continued ; “I suppose it is possible to creat some division between the Foreign Secretary and his colleagues, or at any rate, with his compatriots at home. I think, therefore, it i s right I should say that the Foreign Secretary, in what he did at Geneva, was speaking not personally, or 'individually, but as a representative of the British Government with the assent of his colleagues in the Government.”

Lord Hailsham added that 'Sir J. Simon and Captain Eden had not only icommufticated to their colleagues everything that had happened during the conversations with the interested

'Powers, but actually came home and had discussions upon points which arose. “We, hi® colleagues, know his story is true, .because lie had been able to report to us from day to day exactly what was going . on. There cannot be any doubt .as to the accuracy of the statement he made. But it doc® no; rest there. When Sir J. Simon finished his speech, other Powers who had been present, had conversations. United States, Italy a ud France each expressed in turn acceptance and approval of what Sir J. ’ Simon said. Not one suggested there was a. .wo.-.’d of inaccuracy in the account! which he gave. Britain had only one I desire. She desired world peace, and that security which the world peace required for its permanence. That was her only purpose and her only object.”

ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE URGE

TO SUPERSEDE LOCARNO PACT

LONDON, October 20. .The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, still urges the permanent closure of the .position of France, whose available recruits, it says, owing to fewer births in the country in war time, will fall from the present 240 thousand to 150 thousand in 1935, and to one hundred thousand in 1936.

The “Daily Mail” declares France should construct impenetrable fortifications from the Belgian frontier to the Alps, and should increase her air fleet, while the paper adds that a defensive Anglo-French alliance might supersede the Locarno Treaty. After •tihis, ’Britain 'and France could extend the hand of friendship to a new Germany, whose claim to equal armaments should be conceded s oon , since a. refusal of equality must involve the Anglo-French occupation of the Rhino.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ROME. EXPRESSIONS OF FRIENDSHIP. RUGBY, October 19 Sir Eric Drummond, the new British ambassador to Rome, was the guest of honour at the luncheon in London of the British-Italian League, over which Lord Rennell, who was himself for some years ambassador at Rome, presided. Warm tributes were paid to Sir Eric Drummond’s services when Secretary-General of the League of Nations. The Prime Minister, Mr MacDonald, wrote : “From intimate experience, T can say how deep was the deb; of sail those associated with the work of the League to his dispassionate p.nd tireless assistance. I am very glad to think hd s energy and wisdom will now serve the interests of A)ngloItalian relations. Broadly speaking, it is true that, in a u’orld clouded by uncertainty and not infrequently dis-

tracted by anxieties and antagonisms, at least one constant and reassuring factor can be found, the community of interest enjoyed 'by this country ami Italy. This firm and intelligent frioncTshit) is on uinestimable benefit, not only to the two countries, but to Europe and to the world, and it is with the utmost confidence that we entrust its preservation to our new ambassador.”

G Ell MANY’S .W-IT HDRAW.AL

GENEVA, October 19

Mr Henderson, questioned whether' in view of Germany’s withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference use ( sAwii’M now hn nvde of ’he Four Pow-i or Pact, saij that, although it would be valuable to facilitate agreements within the League, any attempt to substitute it for the Disarmament Conference would have a disturbing (influence on delegations, increase suspicion, and considerably iiiinro both tire 'Conference and the Pact. | The German Government has officially notified the League of Nations of Germany's withdrawal therefrom.

It is understood that 'Signor Mussolini considers it is at present inopportune to call .a meeting of the signatories of the Four Power 'Pact.

SWISS SUBJECT’S .CONSPIRACY

LONDON, October 20

“The Times’ ” Berlin correspondent says: A former High Court lawyer, Hans Wegener, a Swiss subject for three years, .has been sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude and fined £SOOO, while several of his confederates have received lighter punishments, though their property lias been confiscated, for complicity in Wegener’s' allegedly treasonable organisation in Switzerland for getting money past the German foreign exchange control. Wegener allegedly profited large* ly out of the German-Jewish panic, securing ten per cent, on amounts that were transmitted. ' FREEDOM OF CATHOLIC PRESS. ] BERLIN, October 19. Cardinal Bertram, in a manifesto published in “Germania,” demands ■absolute freedom for the Catholic press, and protection of .unhampered activity of Catholic organisations, which are vitally important to Catholicism in Germany. He urges Government relief of the sufferings of men and women of excellent loyal icharacter, hit by the measures enacted during the re-organisation.

OBSCURITY OF THE POSITION

(Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 20

Even the best informed quarters profess inability to see any light in the disarmament situation. There is considerable perturbation over the proper course of action when the full C -n----■ference again meets at Geneva on Thursday. There ’ obviously can be little value of other nations .signing the Disarmament Convention, which in itself, would be a difficult .achievement if Germany, on tho lines of Hitler’s “sign nothing” speech, refused to be associated therewith.

Furthermore, it is felt that any attempt to force Germany into acquiescence might “set a spark to the powder.’’ It appears therefore that the Conference will endeavour to leave the door open to Germany in the hope of inducing a calmer state of mind with

the possibility of renewed discussions after the plebiscite on November 12. Doubtless the Dominions will be kept informed* of the trend of opinions.

REICHSTAG TRTAL. (Received this day at 11.40 a.m.) BERLIN, October 20. Count Helldorf, police president at Potsdam, described as “an absolute (invention,” the story that he sot fire to The Reichstag. He gave evidence that on the night of the fire he called a conference of storm troops leaders and ordered the ,unrest of leading Communists and Socialists. Torgler embarrassed the Court by asking whether Helldorf’ s orders were given in his official or Storm Troop capacity. Helldorf eventually answer- 1 ed that they were given on his own j responsibility. I

Answering Dimitroff’s question what reason lie had to believe Communists and Socialists were concerned in the fire, Helldorf expressed the opinion that criminal elements were usually Marxists. i