Europe Reassured

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 782, 1 October 1929, Page 9

Europe Reassured

MACDONALD’S MESSAGE No Narrow Naval Pact AGREEMENT AMONG ALL POWERS British Official Wireless Received 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Slonday. THE Prime Minister’s journey to the United States as a_ sequel to the naval conversations with the American Ambassador, General C. G. Dawes, is being watched with exceptional interest, not only in this country, hut also in other countries.

Also, from the comments in the European Press, it is evident that Mr. MacDonald’s statement on leaving England, in which is emphasised the “wider international understanding" to which it is now necessary to bring the negotiations regarding naval disarmament, has had a reassuring effect. This is likely to be strengthened by reference to the subject in his message to the Labour Party conference, in which he declared that any -AngloAmerican understanding could only be, and was only intended to be. a preliminary to a larger agreement, which must be reached in conference with the other naval Powers, and later on in the Preparatory Commission at Geneva. His exact words make the position clear:—“l do not want there to be any misunderstanding as to the nature of what we are attempting. Any agreement we achieve can only be, and is only intended to be, the preliminary to a larger agreement which must be reached in conference with other naval Powers, and later on in the Preparatory Commission sitting in Geneva. “We are not trying to present any other nation or nations with a fait accompli which they must take or leave. What we are determined to avoid is that the general march forward toward disarmament may be held up in the future, as it has been in the past, while the two great naval Powers, ourselves and America, halt by the way to argue about their own special difficulties.” The Labour Party conference at Brighton today sent the following wireless message to Mr. MacDonald

aboard the Berengaria:—“All your friends at the annual conference reciprocate your greetings, and assure you of our continued confidence in your leadership, which has been so strikingly justified by our recent victories. We wish you and Ishbel a happy and pleasant time, and desire you to convey to the American President and the nation he represents our gratification at the wholehearted manner in which they are seeking to cooperate in the great task of promoting international arrangements, and so securing a peaceful and peace-loving world.”