The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-07-13
Cordial Agreement
With Great Britain
And France Today
House of Commons Told the News This Morning =
Was an Understanding on Economic Problems

by Sir John Simon. foreign secre-
tary.
It is a four point accord designed
''to promote the spirit of cooper
alton of Lausanne. 1t provides:
/. Exchange Of views with one
another in complete candor and
friendship, keeping each other mu-
tually informed on any question at
fecting the European situation.
2. Working together with other
delegates to find a disarmament So
tuition beneficial and equitable to all
powers concerned.
g.. Cooperation with one an
other and with other governments
in careful, practical preparation
for the world economic conference.
I. Pending negotiations at IateJ
date of a. new, Anglo French COM
mercial treaty, the two powers will
avoid action of nature to discrim-
mate against each others inter-
ests.
"This declaration" Sir John said
emphatically, is in no sense and
at no point q sepcial or exclusive
declaration. have seen the repre-
sentatives of Germany, Italy and
Belgium, handed them copies and
extended to them an invitation to
associate themselves with the de-
claration."
1--WE will endeavor to promote
the political appeasement of Eu-
rope by open and friendly discus
sion," Sir John added.
1t was officially explained that
the agreement does not refer eth
err explicitly or implicitly to war
debts due the United States and
has no connection with them.
The procedure was understood
to be devised for the handling of
political questions not decided at
Lausanne, including possible revi-
sion of the Versailles treaty.
Sir John, endeayoring to dispel
possible suspicion by the United
States that Britain and France win
line up against the Hoover disarm-
ament proposals, said:
i would like to make 1t partic-
ularly clear regarding disarrna-
ment that we have already an
nounced our intention of cooper
ating with the disarmament work
of the United States at Geneva.
am proceeding to Geneva to help
work out the principles OF the
Hoover proposals"
Official quarters took energetic
steps to explain that the agreement
with France was not connected
with war debts due to the United
States. The explanation was made
available to the American Press
almost simultaneously with Sir
johns announcement, because il
was realized that reference to con-
on questions similar in
origin to those now settled at Lau-
same might Immediately be in.
terpreted as a united Anglo
French front against the United
States.
Of1cial circles said emphatically
that war debts had not entered
the minds of Simon and Premier
Edouard Herriot when the agree
ment was negotiated. If Herriot
eventually claims the agreement
covers the United States war debts,
Britain would quickly disabuse
Herriot was understood to be
anxious FOR the agree
ment because he feared future
German maneuvers for revision Of
the Versailles treaty and wanted a
guarantee that IL Germany ap-
preached Britain on the subject,
Britain would be obligated to con-
sult France. Thus France would
not be taken by surprise and find
Germany, Italy and Britain lined
up against her on the revision
question.