MOSCOW TALKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1939, Page 8

MOSCOW TALKS

MENTIONED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS MR CHAMBERLAIN REFUSES DETAILS. EXTENSION TO FAR EAST NOT FAVOURED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, June 21. The Moscow negotiations were men ■ tioned in the House of Commons at question time. Mr Chamberlain replied in the negative when asked if he proposed that a Cabinet Minister should proceed to Moscow. He again declined to give details of the difficul ties still standing in the way of the conclusion of an agreement, on the ground that it was undesirable in the public interest to do so. Mr R. A. Butler (Foreign Undersecretary), who was asked whether the Government would consider the advisability of extending the terms of the Anglo-French-Soviet Pact to cover the Far East, in view of the advantages which this would bring to the interests of all three countries, replied “No.”' He added that the negotiations which were at present being conducted concerned only the European situation. Mr Butler, replying to another question. said the Foreign Secretary was aware that the Soviet had made it clear that the Soviet would take a grave view of any agreement which would result in a diminution of the independence or sovereignty of either Latvia or Estonia, and those Governments for their part had declared their determination to maintain. their independence and neutrality. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, noon.) MOSCOW, June 21. M’. Molotov, Mr W. Strang and the British and French Ambassadors con ferred for two hours and are meeting again shortly.

M. BONNET’S SURVEY AGREEMENT ON ESSENTIAL POINTS. BUT BALTIC QUESTION NOT SETTLED. (Received This Day, noon.) PARIS, June 21. M. Bonnet, at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Soviet had agreed to the essential points in the latest British and French plan, but guarantees to the Baltic countries were still a stumbling block. The negotiations were continuing favourably and it should be possible shortly to announce a complete agreement. He added that France would solidly support Britain in the Far East and indicated that a Franco-Turkish Pact, including the cession of the Hatay (or Sanjak of Elexandretta) was imminent. \ NO PROGRESS AS COMPARED WITH EARLIER PROPOSALS. ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN REPORT. (Received This Dav. 1.45 p.m.) MOSCOW, June 22. An official of the Tass Agency announced that the new English and French proposals “do not show any progress as compared with the previous proposals.”