GENERAL AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1939, Page 8

GENERAL AGREEMENT

REACHED BY BRITAIN & RUSSIA MR. CHAMBERLAIN’S SURVEY OF NEGOTIATIONS. FULL RECIPROCITY APPROVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.20 a-.m.) LONDON, June 7. The Prime Minister (Mr. Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons, said it had been decided to send a representative of the Foreign Office to Moscow to give the British Ambassador (Sir W. Seeds) full information concerning the Government’s attitude on all outstanding points. “In the last exchange of views, general agreement on main objects has been attained,” Mr. Chamberlain added. “We have satisfied the Soviet that Britain is prepared to enter into an agreement on a basis of a full reciprocity and to be ready immediately, without reserve, to join France in giving Russia full military support in the event of aggression involving hostilities with a European Power.”' It was possible, he said, to imagine various cases in which any of the three government might feel its security menaced by the action of other European countries. He hoped it would be possible to find a formula acceptable to the trio to ensure co-operation. Manifestly it was impossible to impose guarantees on certain States not desiring them, on the ground that guarantees would compromise their strict neutrality. It was hoped that difficulties would not stand in the way of giving lhe greatest effect to mutual support against aggression.

BALTIC NEUTRALITY OBJECTIONS TO GUARANTEES. SIR W. SEEDS INDISPOSED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 7. Mr. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, said Britain had received several communications from Finland, Estonia and Latvia indicating that in view of their intention to maintain strict neutrality, they did not wish to receive a guarantee as part of the present negotiations between Britain, France and Russia. Questioned regarding staff conversations with countries*to which guarantees had been given, Mr. Chamberlain said the normal method of maintaining staff contact with foreign countries was through Service attaches. That procedure had ben supplemented in recent months and it was contemplated that it would be followed in other cases, but it would not be in the public interest to give any details. In connection with Mr Chamberlain’s announcement that a Foreign Office official is being sent to Moscow, it is learned that Mr. William Strang, head of the central department of the Foreign Office, will do to Moscow at an early date to render technical assistance to Sir William Seeds in further conversations with the Soviet. Sir W. Seeds is for the present indisposed, and thus is unable to return to London for any consultations that might be desired.

The Anglo-Soviet negotiations were reviewed at this morning’s Cabinet meeting, which lasted for 21 hours. In connection with the strengthening of the peace front against aggression, importance is attached to yesterday’s meeting between Mr. Chamberlain. Lord Halifax, and M. Raczynski, when it is reported technical progress, including military, economic and financial aspects, were discussed.