Evening star., 1932-03-29
'L0NDON.PAR|S PACT
ANTICIPATED HERE
Conservatives Closing, Rift,
Macdonald May Retire
From Cabinet.
Continued From First Page.)

premier, but a premier without party
and more of a symbol than an actual
power
The Conservatives are debating in
Great Britain today. the same Con-
servatives who believe that the welfare
Of the empire depends greatly on Brit
aims position In Europe. and the same
Conservatives who had made the ia
nous naval agreement with France in
1928: an agreement which had to be
dropped at the itisistent demand OF the
United States
The precarious situation in Europe
has brought the British and the French
governments together again. Premier
Tardieu is preparing to go to London
to discuss with the British cabinet the
terms upon which an understanding
might be reached possibly before the
Geneva Conference reconvenes on
April 9.
According to reliable reports from
London 1t Is not impossible that in
order to facilitate a closer co-opera-
ton between Britain and France, re
shuffling in the British cabinet might
be necessary. It is reported that Mac
Donald is very tired and that he is
prepared to hand over the helm OF
Neville Chamberlain.
Dissatisfa ction Seen.
The same reports indicate thorough
dissatisfaction among the members Of
the House of Commons with the pres
ent Heterogeneous cabinet composed of
Liberals, former Laborites and Tories
The Conservative members of the
House are urging their leaders to get
rid of the non-conservative elements in
the emergency cabinet, which has out
lived its usefulness. These reports add
that 1t is on the cards that a pure
Tory cabinet should be formed in the
course of the next few weeks, prohab bly,
after the 1882 budget has passed
through the House
1t Is believed that a closer eo-opet-
alton Between the French and the
British is more likely if a purely Tory
cabinet is in Office In London An un-
derstandihg between France and Great
Britain is more likely tcday than ever
before. Because the two nations have
more things in common at present than
any other two countries. If this hap
pens everybody expects the diSarma-
rf1ent ship at Geneva to sail on smoother
waters
Nobody but few idealistieally-
minded delegates believe that the Dis
armament Conference will give any
positive results. The most that can be
hoped is the agreement for status
quo" Of the present forces. That is to
say, that the nations of the world which
are gathered at Geneva will emphat-
cally state that they will not exceed
their present artnaments. This in Itself
1t Is stated. would mark certain
progress. But all the same one must
bear in mind that the Germans. who
are vitality interested in the conference,
are claiming that either the other
nations, and especially France and her
allies, reduce their present armies or
Germany must be allowed to increase
her present military effeetives.
Deep Gloom Prevails.
France, her allies and associates are
prepared to limit their forces to what
they have today, but they are not
Willing to permit Germany or any of
the other former Central powers to
increase their military forces. Hence
a certain amount Of gloom prevails
among the members of the Disarma-
freflt Conference regarding any prac-
tical achievements at Geneva this year
But while nobody expects positive re-
suits as far as actual disarmament is
concerned, 1t is hoped that the Danu-
bisn states. Austria. Rumai1ia. Hungary
Jugoslavia and Czethoslovakia might
be induced to agree among themselves
to form Danubian confederation
France has been urging these countries
to accept this idea; Britain Is expected
now to be in favor Of the French
thesis. This confederation is planned
to be merely an economic unit, each
country maintaining its complete politi-
cal independence But as the new
confederation will have to be supported
economically and especially financially
particular case France is the only
European country which can advance
the necessary funds to these countries
to save them from bankruptcy it is
easily seen that the Danubian confed-
Grafton will be strictly controlled by
the nation which Is III position to
lend them the necessary capital. 1t
is TRUE that the suggestion Is that
an international concern of bankers
should advance the necessary credits
to the new confederation. The amount
required Is stated to be only $50 1000 900.
E"pUShtS NOW.
This was an insignificant amount a
year or so ago, but is quite imposing
under the present circumstances,
1t is most unlikely that American bank
ers who have burned their fingers in
Europe and other foreign countries will
be willing to associate themselves with
any new fnoney-lending scheme es-
pecially when this money will have to
go to Central European states Conse-
quently 1t is France and her friends
who will have to advance most of the
required loan If the confederation ever
comes into being
The French supported by the Brit
lish, will do their utmost to bring the
Danubian confederation into existence.
1t is unknown. however, whether all
the Danubian states will be willing to
join in this scheme, which under the
cover Of an economic reorganization of
Central Europe has in reality a much
deeper political meaning.
1t is known that the Italian govern
ment, which was conversant with this
scheme since last Fall is greatly con-
cerned about the possibilities of it
succeeding Count Bethlen, the leading
Hungarian statesman, visited Mussolini
on January IA and reassured II Duce
that Hungary would oppose with all
its might any policy leading to a rap
prochement of his country toward the
Little Entente.
Austria, it is reported, feels equally
disinclined to join her former enemies
Italy is doing its utmost to prevent
the forming of such confederation
because she feels that she would be
then completely surrounded by poten-
tial enemies. But Italy herself is in a
preeariUus financial situation and is not
capable of affording any financial
assistance to these countries which un-
less Immediately helped will have to go
into receivers hands.
Consequently, according to observers
who have recently returned from Fu-
rope, it is likely that. while the Dis
armament Conference may not give any
positive results, formation of the Dam
ubisn confederation may result.
American diplomats view this pos
sible occurrence with favor. There is
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