Evening star., 1931-04-11
TRADE PACT SNAGS
1882 ARMS PARLEY
Customs Union Seen Reply to
Alleged Naval Deal lso-
lating Germany.

Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald Of
Great Britain going from one delega-
ton to another telling each something
different, thus creating irreparable mis-
understandings"
The choice now seems TO lie among
Biarritz, Barcelona ana Geneva. Sir
Eric Drummond. secretary general Of
the League of Nations, is visiting in
Biarritz, and will go next week to Rome
and Berlin, presumably to prepare an
agreement on the place.
Great Britain'S fundamental policy.
the more % as Mr.. Henderson is
candidate for the presidency Of the
disarmament conference, Is to hold an
equal balance between France and Italy
and France and Germany. In order,
therefore, to reaSsure Germany and TO
try to prepare the ground for a dis
armament agreement, Mr.. Henderson
seems to have invited Chancellor Helm
rich Bruening and Foreign Minister
Julius Curtius OF Germany some time
ago, with the full knowledge of M.
BRAND, to week end in London about
May Z.
Then suddenly came the Austro-Ger-
man union project. 1t annoyed the
British because they considered that,
after all the friendship they had shown
Germany since the World War, the least
Germany could have done was to in
form them in advance as to what was
contemplated.
The Germans seem to have replied
that they also would like to have been
kept better informed regarding various
matters by Great Britain. They asked
whether the weekend invitation still
held good. Upon Mr.. .Henderson's re-
plying in the affirmative, the Germans
and British both published the news
and the Germans suggested May ! as
more convenient date.
The German press became trium-
phant. The projected Anglo-Germany
week end was freely interpreted as
foreshadOwing Anglo-German agree
ment, both on the Austro- German af-
fair and on disarmament.
Weekend Meeting Postponed.
But the reaction Of the French was
equally vigorous. Great Britain was
promptly accused of return to pre-
war diplomatic methods" of infringing
on the spirit of the League of Nations
and Of prejudicing the case by private
talks with the Germans just prior to
the meetings of the European Union
Committee and the League Council.
which on May Is, in Geneva is TO
discuss the Austro-German affair aS
well as the Disarmament Conference.
Great Britain, therefore, to Frances
satisfaction and Germany'S disgust,
postponed the Anglo-German week end
to June 5. At the same time, how
ever, 1t Is announced that a British
naval squadron for the first time since
the end of June, while German
| squadron will return this friendly visit
| at Portsmouth in July.
All these developments raise serious
problems for France. AS far as can
now be determined, French policy
seems to be shaping thus:
l. To retard deciions on all dis
presidency of the conference and solu-
ton of the French British Italian naval
! agreement. pending discussion of the
Austro-German union project at
Geneva.
| 2. To place the European powers
assembly at Geneva before two alterna-
| tives, either to seek satisfactory 6olu-
tions in a friendly spirit in common.
in which case France Is ready to offer
substitute economic proposals in place
Of the Austro-German plans, or France
will feel indisposed toward any dis
armament concessions whatever and
will insist on the strict enforcement
Of the peace treaties.
| Brands Policy Attacked.
Foreign Minister BRAND is more and
more accused In France of being
| too conciliatory, thereby encouraging
| Frances adversaries 20 take an in
creasingly aggressive attitude. Presi-
dent CASTOR Doumergue'S strong speech
on Thursday against disarmament and
against the AuStro-G German plan was
the result Of calm deliberations by the
French government.
On Wednesday M. BRAND and Pre-
mier Pierre Laval had q long confer
ence on the subject of an alternative
| project France may of in Geneva. 1t
| is recognized that Frances narrowly
| nationalistic economic policies are in
compatible with Frances supposedly
conciliatory foreign policy.
| Some French leaders, including Louis
| Loucheur, Jacques Letrocquer, Etienne
Fougers and M de Peyerimhoff, head of
the coal syndicate, propose a full
| Franco-G German customs union, but,
] failing this the French apparently in
| tend to propose a system of preferen-
| tial tariffs to Germany, Austria, Hun
| gary and the Little Entente countries.
| France would probably also welcome
direct negotiations with Germany on
| the disarmament conference without
| British mediation.
AS for Italy, it still has not declared
| itself. 1t apparently Is willing to con-
slider offers from either side.
Diplomatic activity continues and the
next few weeks promise many develop
| mentS.