ARMAMENT REVIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1933, Page 5

ARMAMENT REVIEW

BRITAIN’S POLICY

OUTLINED BY SIR JOHN SIMON. (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 24. The disarmament situation was reviewed in .a speech in the Commons by Sir J. Simon, who summed up tne British policy in the following sentences : Firstly, the .adjournment of th e Conference did not mean the adjournment of the work for disarmament. It meant the opposite. The Bri-ish Government intended that, this period of Suspension should be devoted, without delay and without in- 1 termission to the .exchange of views between individual Governments hi •

order to prepare the ground t -rr which the Conference could resume its work, ground which had been so

fatally interfered- with by Germany’s withdrawal. Secondy, how these exchanges of -view could best be carried on must depend on circumstances. The British Government considered these exchanges should be conducted through diplomatic . channels, an the form oa . bilateri&l conversations. ' , Thirdly, we welcomed the assurance of Herr Hitler that Germany's tone desire is .for peace, and that she , has no aggressive, designs. i Fourthly, we hold Germany a, b o 1 ha s her contribution to maice in order to render general disarmament possible in practice, and we hope as the out-some of the exchange of views which arc now going to be undertaken, j it will be .found .possible to translate those assurances into such concrete shape as will help to build up that interna- ■ tional security, which i s an indispen- j sible condition to disarmament. I

The view had been expressed that the Conference should go on as if nothing had happened, with a view! to .framing an -agreed convention, j which should then he tendered to absentee or absentees, with an invitation tor demand they should sign . it. Apart from the practicability ot that procedure, which could only be ’ carried out, if they were reasonably sure they were going to get every State in agreement, he questioned the wisdom of s u ch procedure and could imagine* none more Ukely to drive iron into Germany’s soul than to suggest Germany’s withdrawal made n o difference, and for the rest to forrnu-1 late a document and request to Germany to sign on the dotted line. The obiect

was to bring about a general agreement. The only -way to reach it was by negotiation, not by method of shot s at Jong range. Germany w,as hot a target for dictation. She was not a partner in the discussion. In -recent weeks a number of tentative suggestions had -arisen on the German side. Sir J. Simon referred to a speech by Hitler just before the elections, .and to the more recent interview with him in a great newspaper, which called for the most considered examination .by all seeking peace and reconciliation; He wished to acknowledge that Italy had made a most valuable cofirrituition toward the agreement. There haci heun some Very stnpngly phrased declarations made by th e head °f the Italian Government, but the Italian -Government' authorised their representatives to explain that Italy was not seeking to .avoid to continue the good work of the. Conference, but was anxious to co-operate with the rest. Tn the same ■ way, -it was made clear that the French Government would .not assume a rigid position. By good sense and completely friendly 'cooperation there had been unanimity on the proceduv*,, which was an essential preliminary to an agreement on substance.

POLICY WARMLY WELCOMED

LONDON, November 25

Britain’s new disarmament lead, announced by Sir John Simon (Foreign Secretary) is warmly welcomed abroad.

French official circles, however, are divided between a desire for international peace and the distrust 01 Hitlerism.

Th-e Berlin press give s prominence to the speech, which is regarded as an important step in the right direction, but it is noted there is still no recognition of Germany’s demand for equality of treatment.

FRAXCO-G ERMAN NEC OT.IA (IRONS

LONDON, November 25

The British United Press Berlin correspondent states that it is reliably reported that direct negotiations for disarmament have already been begun between France and Germany, through diplomatic channels.

MUSSOLINI AND LITVINOFF

LONDON, November 25

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: Signor (Mussolini wishes to confer with M. Litvinoff (Soviet Foreign Minister),

who coisequen ly will .possibly return to Europe from Now York on one of

the new Italian liners