IMPORTANT SPEECH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 663, 16 October 1933, Page 5

IMPORTANT SPEECH

THE BRITISH POLICY Geneva, October 14. At the Disarmament Conference, 'John Simon in a statement said the British Government believed at a Disarmament Convention could ' have been agreed upon on a ■;is that could provide for any im•tliate rearmament. Recent conver'bns had shown that the British tft convention which had been ad■od as the frameworlc of an agree®t, would reqirire to be recast. It 13 designed to cover five years and "le powers wished to extend it to years. So far, no objection had raised to eight years. It would be-devoted to secure *0 essential conditions, (a) a 'Pecial measure of disarmament 'ctually completed; (b) the achieve'^Ually completed; (b) the 'chievement* of principal equality ^Hin the realm o'f security. Ihe eight years scheme would be11 With the transf ormation of arma£tits with adequate supervision ;t°ugh a permanent disarmament '^laission. The exact amount of dis^ament to be achieved in eight :ai's must be stipulated in the conKtton. Britain would not be satis|if the degree of disarmament was A set out in full detail and was inadequate. ' Ihe list of permitted arms would edi'awn up and would be the same 11 al countries. The scheme would 113 at the same time achieve sub-

stantial disarmament ancl equality, but powers not restricted by peace treaties shoulcl not_begin the increase of armamenfs immediately but express their willingness to conform to a timetable. He added that Britain considered an agreement impossible on a basis of immediate re-armament. The agreement necessary at the out set is that no government shall manufacture or acquire weapons of any type that may eventually be abolished. "We earnestly desire the attainment of equality," he said, "which had best be accomplished by a programme like that of the British. M. Boncour, supporting Sir John Simon, insisted on the necessity for control and emphasised that the object of the convention was to reduce the level of arms and thus attain equality. Mr. Norman Davis (America) reiterated M. Boncour's arguments and said that America would not participate in supervision unless the treaty contained precise disarmament provisions. ITerr Von Rliyne (Baden) demanded that her-vily armed powers immediately disarm. Equality should immediately be realised but Germany was prepared to negotiate in respect of the equality of arms to wrich she was entitled. British quarters in Paris are not surprised at Germany's withdrawal end declare that it wa^ the only thing that Germany can do to avoid being pillorised by Europe. The inflexibility of Sir John Simon's statement dumbfounded the Germans who were disappointed at the united front presented by France, Britain, America and Italy. The withdrawal is felt to be the logical consequence of Herr Hitler's recent utterances. The bureau decided that Sir John Simon's statement should be transmitted to the General Commission for immediate discussion on Monday afternoon. This occasion will provide an opportunity to. guage the nature of world opinion as it stands in the light of latest developments.