OF REAL URGENCY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1939, Page 5

OF REAL URGENCY

NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOVIET STATEMENT BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. REPLY NOW AWAITED , TO PROPOSALS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 10. In concluding the statement in the House of Commons in which he indicated the general lines of the conversations between Britain and Russia in regard to the proposed Eastern European security system, the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said: — “I should add that the British Ambassador in Moscow, Sir William Seeds, had an interview two days ago with M Molotov, Soviet Foreign Commissar at the conclusion of which M Molotov promised that the Soviet would give careful consideration to bur proposals, and we are now awaiting the Soviet’s reply.” In reply to a question, Mr Chamberlain said he thought they had better await the Soviet’s reply to see what further steps might be required, but he emphatically declared that Britain regarded the negotiations with Moscow as a matter of great importance and real urgency. OPINION IN MOSCOW BARRIER NEEDED AGAINST AGGRESSION. ADVOCACY OF UNITED FRONT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MOSCOW, May 11. ’ The official organ, “Isvestia” says that Russia has maintained and will continue to maintain, that; if Britain and France really want to create a barrier against aggression, then a united front of mutual assistance should be created embracing Britain, France, Poland and Russia, or at least Britain, France and Russia. These three, bound by a pact of mutual and reciprocal assistance, should guarantee other states in Eastern and Central Europe which are threatened by aggression. BRITAIN & GERMANY SUGGESTED RECIPROCAL ASSURANCES. NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY. ’ (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 10. Mr Chamberlain told the House of Commons today that he hoped to make a statement shortly on the negotiations With Turkey, adding that there was no intention to delay this statement until the discussions with the Soviet had been concluded. Mr Chamberlain was also asked in the House what reply had been received from Germany to Britain’s offer to guarantee Germany against aggression and whether the offer had been conveyed through a diplomatic‘ channel. He replied: “While, as I stated in my reply last Wednesday, the British Government is ready to consider proposals to exchange reciprocal assurances with Germany, this offer has not been conveyed and Britain has not received any communication from Germany on the subject.”