EFFORTS FOR PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1939, Page 6

EFFORTS FOR PEACE

LORD HALIFAX REVIEWS POSITION GUARANTEES IN EASTERN EUROPE. FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING WITH TURKEY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav. 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, June 8. Speaking in a House of Lords debate, Lord Halifax (Foreign Minister) reviewed the position regarding guarantees given in Eastern Europe by Britain, as a measure to restore confidence by providing for effective resistance to aggression, and the use of force or threat of force. Referring first to Poland, Lord Halifax said reciprocal declarations had been made pending the conclusion of a permanent agreement between the two governments. It was his hope that this permanent agreement would shortly be concluded. The assurances to Rumania and Greece were unilateral in form and did not require any further definition. As regards Turkey, the first stage of negotiations was brought to a successful issue just a month ago. Further consultations for which that declaration provided were being actively pursued, and he hoped before ’long to be able to announce that they had been successfully completed. The attitude of friendly co-operation Turkey had adopted during these discussions had been a source of the greatest satisfaction to Britain and gave a good augury for the consolidation of peace in the Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe. Lord Halifax said: “As to our association with the Soviet, I had the advantage of personal discussion with French Ministers in Paris and Geneva and a continuance of my conversations with the Russian Ambassador in London (M. Maisky). As a result of those discussions, Anglo-French proposals were made to the Soviet which, in our view, met all essential points on which there had been difficulty, but there remained one or two difficulties to be solved. In regard to the position of the Baltic States we have never attempted and we would not think it right to thrust assurances upon countries which do not want them, or to take any steps which might compromise, in other quarters, the relations of those countries. Our only desire is to maintain their neutrality. “At the same time, it is to be recognised that, from the point of view of her own security, the Soviet cannot be disinterested in the independence of her neighbours. I hope we may be able to find a means by which that difficulty and any others which may arise will be solved,”

Mr Strang returned to London today by air from Warsaw, where he had been on noliday. it is probable that he will leave for Moscow by air on Saturday. VISIT TO LONDON. BY BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN FRANCE. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) PARIS, June 8. The British Ambassador (Sir E. Phipps) left for London after an interview with M. Daladier, it is believed in connection with the Anglo-French-Soviet Pact. MR STRANG’S MISSION. NEW FORMULA REGARDING BALTIC STATES. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Press Association says Mr William Strang, head of the central departure of the Foreign Office, is going to Moscow with a new formula to overcome difficulties concerning the Baltic States.