Evening star., 1932-10-13
Premier Herriot Advances No
New Thesis on Visit
to Macdonald.
NORMAN DAVIS ATTENDS
AS AMERICAN OBSERVER
British Hope French Attitude Will
Be Such That Germany Will
Be Kept in Negotiations.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Conversations which will result either
in the end Of the arms reduction con-
ference or an energetic resumption Of
that parley with excellent prospects of
satisfactory conclusion, are being car
ried on in London today between
Edouard Herriot, the French prime min
lister, and the British government.
Norman Davis, the American repre-
sentative, is most interested and in
teresting observer
As matter of fact, Mr. Davis is
much mere than an observer. He is an
adviser, and much-!istened-to adviser,
because upon the attitude Of the United
States, which he officially represents,
hinges much of the results of the
British-French negotiations. Further
more, Mr.. Davis, as a prominent
member Of the Democratic party rep
reSenting a Republican administration,
is considered by the European cabinets
as an ideal spokesman for the United
States Whatever he says now repre-
sents the views of the Republican ad
minlstration and should the results OF
the November election go against the
administration Mr.. Davis important
place in the Democratic party gives the
foreign powers confidence that he will
be able to continue what he may be
starting today in London.
No New Thesis Offered.
Premier Herriot is not bringing any
new plan before the British government
He is again offering the old thesis which
the French have brought before the
world since the end of the war, security
first, disarmament after"
France is honest in her assertion that
she is willing to disarm. but she is
pointing out that today more than at
any other time in the last l3 years
she must have an absolute guarantee
that her frontiers will remain secure
against any foreign invasion.
Until she obtains such q guarantee
she will neither reduce her military and
naval establishments. nor will she grant
| Germany her request for equality in
! arms This is the gist of the French
/ agenda which Herriot presented Ram
| say Macdonald today, although 1t con-
| tains several other points on which the
French government is willing to bar
! gain.
The attitude of the British govern
| ment is somewhat uncertain. This un-
| certainty comes from the fact that
there are at present two distinct poll
cies within the cabinet. One is that of
Ramsay Macdonald, who is a firm be-
lever in disarmament and opposed to
any military commitments on the part
of his country. He believes that the
present treaties and agreements such
as the Versailles treaty. the Locarno
agreement, the Kellogg BRAND pact
are sufficient peace instruments to
| guarantee Frances security against any
aggression.
Majority Agrees With France.
The majority of the British cabinet
and especially Sir John Simon, look
, upon the situation from a more realis-
| tic point Of view and are inclined to
| agree with France that something
more definite is necessary before that
country can be asked either to reduce
her ornaments or permit Germany
equality in arms with other countries.
The British cabinet would prefer an
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